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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Goonalan" data-source="post: 3891346" data-attributes="member: 16069">Turn 52: Court in the Act. “What do you mean, it was your duty?” Cas scans the oak panelled chamber, he knows he’s not on trial, it just feels like he is. The twelve members of the Grimbo City Council sit back in the shadows of the chamber, completely hidden from sight.“I mean Molton Clay had suffered a terrible disaster, and we were sent there by the Church of Pelor to give aid. It’s the duty of all right-minded individuals to help these poor people, to try and discover what happened there…”“And?” The voice comes out of the dark again, gruff and unreasonable.“And what?”“Did you discover what happened, the events of Molton Clay?”“No, that is…”“No?”“I mean we uncovered some facts, horsemen, nearly fifty of them, they’d been in the village for a couple of days perhaps- looking for something…”“What horseman, who were they?”“We don’t know.”“Don’t know?”“No. Just that they were looking for something…”“What?”“What… what?”“What were they looking for Casimir La Frond, Paladin of Pelor?”“They were looking for…”“Yes.”Cas thinks about lying, the moment passes.“A gem, they called it the “Eye of the Night’, it…”“And did they find the jewel?”“No.”“Are you sure?”“Yes.”“How can you be certain?”Again he hesitates.“Because I have it.”Which brings a momentary halt to the questions.“Show us.”Cas reaches into a pocket, brings forth the gem, it winks and glitters even in the shadowy light, warm in his hands.“Good. Very good. Now look after it.”The sound of scrapping chairs, a door opens, people, hidden in the shadows still, file out of the chamber.“What’s… I say, could you… I mean… What are you going to do? Who were these men? Why did they want this so bad?”The Paladin lunges forward holding the Eye of the Night aloft, it flares as it catches in a shaft of light, glows for a moment and then fades to a dull red colour, the Paladin stares at the gem- entranced. The guards grip hold of him, wrench him round, he’s still shackled, and drag Cas out of the chamber.To a light filled room, the rest of the Goodman Gang are there, sans shackles. Khan appears, as if by magic, and with a bunch of keys in his hands, he removes the Paladin’s bonds, “no hard feelings?” He stares hard at Cas, “just doing my duty.”“None, Captain.” Cas spits back.“Actually it’s Major, just thought I’d come and see you off, the personal touch, you’re free of course, the Council regrets this incident, the Sergeant who reported your actions in Molton Clay has been disciplined and discharged from the service, didn’t even make ‘soldier’, I’m sure he’ll thank you if he runs into you again. Have a nice day.”Major Khan turns and quickly walks away as a blinding light engulfs the sextet.“What’s that light?” Cas turns back blinking hard.“That’s the sun, do you want to take a look?” Ala grabs Cas’ arm and pulls him after her, out through the gaol doors and into the golden light of Grimbo.The others file out after them, Newt leans into Bec, “what did you whisper to him… him in the cells?”The Barbarian grins, “Buffet.”“Nice one, bug guy.”And there they stand, eyes blinking furiously after the dark of the cells, surrounded by the grime and filth of Grimbo.Cas stretches, it feels good to be free, reaches out to Ala, whose smile is causing all sorts of sensations, he’s almost blushing.THUMPSomeone runs into Cas, he catches hold of the someone, blinks back the light- it’s Arabella Ross in his arms, all heaving bosom and blood-red lips.“Out of the frying pan…” Ala begins.“Oh Cassy Wassy.” Arabella buries her head in the Paladins manly chest, “it’s so terrible”, her hand snakes round to squeeze his, ahem, manly buttock.The Paladin blushes furiously.“What is?”And then Arabella feints away, the Paladin grabs her, then quickly realises how tired he is, he’s losing her… Bec steps in and grabs Arabella, lifts her up and then thumps her down over his shoulder, “Wheatsheaf. Buffet”, and strides off, the rag-tag bunch follow after, Ala and Cas hand in hand.Several hours later the adventurers have washed away the dirt and grime and are now ensconced in Cas (and Ala’s) room, it’s snug, and Arabella has the only chair, she’s coming to the end of her tail.“And so you really must do something to help, you must put a stop to the fiend they call “The Ripper.” Arabella mops her brow, “It’s hot in here- I’ll just undo a few buttons.”She does.It has the desired effect.It gets much hotter.Jim crosses his legs.“How can we help?”“Well these… ahem ladies, their mortal remains that is, have all been found in The Nunny, a terrible place you’ve no doubt heard of- it’s simply wretched there, so they tell me- thieves and their kind. Begging your pardon… its Tadpole isn’t it?” Arabella nods and smiles at Newt, he finds it in himself to politely smile and nod back- he’s feeling charitable and he’s also staring at a bosom he could ski down.“I didn’t mean to offend your Dwarf.” Arabella bats her eyelids at Cas as she delivers her Coups De Grace.“No offence taken, I’m sure.” Cas smiles back thinly. “What I want to know Arabella is what connection you have with these… ahem ladies?”“Oh. I’m part of the W.I., the Women’s Institute, for the older lot it’s all Jam and Crochet, but for me it’s a chance to help these poor fallen souls that have been reduced to using their bodies to er… make ends meet, as they say. Oooo.”Arabella slumps forward then catches herself, her hand grabs out and locks onto Cas’ thigh, squeezes, she looks up at him, “Just felt a little… flush.” Her hand inches up the Paladin’s thigh, “do say you’ll help.”“But how can we…”“Leave it to me.” Jim folds his arms, he has a plan.“Wha?”“Lady Arabella, I wonder if we could borrow one of your plainer dresses.”Jim winks at Arabella, then pointedly looks at Cas.“I don’t think Ala or Anya would particularly relish being used as bait for this fiend, and having to pretend to be a lady of… ahem loose morals.” Cas suddenly notices that everyone in the room is looking at him.“I… I… that is…”“I bet you’ve got lovely legs.” Lady Arabella rubs the Paladin’s calf.“I… I couldn’t my station, what would people say… I… I… That is… Not too plain Arabella, something that matches my eyes; and not red- it makes me look fat.”Sometime later the Eye of the Night is safely under lock and key with Father Whiskin in St. Jimbo’s, and Cas is dressed as a tart.Next Turn: Catch Up.</blockquote>

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