Tweaker your performance goes off with great enthusiasm. Several people proclaim, "The star of the show." There is loud clapping. More an more people are getting sloppy drunk now, heads bobbing and words slurring.
---
The fourth course is served:
10:00—The Dance of the Engorged Vulture: This course consists of whole
roast baby squid served with honey sauce, minted lamb with fresh
vegetables, sauced hatchling alligator, tureens of cod spawn
in garlic stewed in wine and parsley.
Andrea will gracefully take her leave of the lord when she can and pass along the information to the others.
The Asmodean Knot, unlike the rest of the manor and the Hessian Spiral, is said to be contained wholly in a pocket dimension accessed from a special mirror hidden somewhere in the house."
Andrea watches Tweaker bounce around. SO we should start checking out mirrors. perhaps with a detection spell. Unfortunatly I do not have one memorized at the momment. The question is when do we make our move? Plus how to get inside.
Considering how blasted everyone is getting we might be able to pull it off right in front of them. But I suspect that once everyone is thrown into bed by the servents we'll have more difficulty.
Orsin places his hand on top of Calseinica's and escorts it back to her own lap. "Haunted, not haunted-- who knows? Perhaps we should find a place for you to lie down for a little while?"
I wonder how fast those alchemist's kindnesses work...
Orsin will try to get away from Miss Nymmis without making her upset and rejoin Lord Diosa once more. He needs just one vital piece of information before he can join the others in the search for the Knot.
"Lord Diosa, I hope that our performance earlier helped to make up for your absence at the playhouse? I understand that your family are quite the patrons of the theatre." More discretely he says, "...Particularly some of the more adventurous productions..."
If the conversation leads that way, Orsin will ask if Hendrix has ever heard of the tenor Gregorio Ardiavinci.
During the meal the happy Mayor puts forth his next entertainment request,
"W..w..who wants to see a wh <hiccup> whippin'" He grins. "Drovalid ...give Dentris a good whipping for us during the next break." A waiter steps up next to John and uncovers a his tray which reveals leather riding crop. 'We would all like to see tha...that reenact...ment." There are several encouraging comments by others.
Lord Diosa responds, "I enjoy plays that have very unhappy endings at times. Is there a reason why I should know such a commoner's name? It rings no bell with me. I don't want to keep you from your lovely companion, she seems quite friendly this evening, and I must be leaving." He too leaves the house after calling his carriage, there doesn't seem to be any concern for him as he leaves in the night time hours.
Duncan your female drunken noble friend keeps chatting with you, all small talk, mostly about the various types of alcohol, their flavors and the craft behind making them. This is an area that she seems knowledgeable. By the end of this course of dinner she is two sheets to the wind.
I will kill you slowly Lord Diosa and stain my hands with your blood as Gregorio surely stained yours.
Orsin smiles broadly, "Of course, enjoy your evening Lord Diosa."
The bard offers a deep bow, his gaze falling on the noble's boots.
If I find out that you are connected to his death, I will grab you by your dainty locks and smash your face into a mirror. Repeatedly.
He smiles again before leaving.
Orsin will slump down next to one of his brothers, it doesn't matter who, visibly disappointed. "I hate these people," he pouts quietly.
Ms Nymmis slides down next to you, "You don't hate me now do you <hic>'
Oh gods, this is the last thing I need.
"My darling, I could never hate you. Why would you even say such a thing?"
"Cause you said you hate me." her face scrunches up. Now I don't like that DeLour <burp>tramp" giggles, {b]"Issss that bad of me?"[/b]
Tweaker is trying to recall how big the house looked and with shared information how many floors to know where attic is so the group is careful if the mayor has an ill son there. He asks if anyone has talked to the majordomo
Tweaker is still try to listen in on conversations.
The conversation Tweaker is able to over hear and join in on consisting of mostly drunken slurs and a bit of materialistic bragging.
Lucrezia limited herself to just the one glass of wine and few bites of each dish. Being careful to take tiny bites each time to make it seem like she was eating more than she was and frequently put the glass to her lips without actually drinking.
At the mayor's suggestion, Lucrezia nods in agreement. "Of course we would like nothing better than to give you a reenactment." Especially since it's just a little riding crop. It'll feel like nothing next to that scourge used in the play.
Lucrezia allows John to smack her with the riding crop between courses. I guess she'll just lean over a table or chair and let him smack her on the ass a few times with it.
"If you would like a reenactment I will oblige."
"Shhh...shh...I didn't mean you, sweet dove," he says, cradling her head in his arms. "Don't worry about Delour now. We all have so little time in this world, we shouldn't waste it on our enemies."
His own remark begins to sink in.
Tweaker will try and find time to see about the secret door without being observed. He sees if he can open it and slip inside.
Andrea teases at John. Come on my dear Torturer, put your back into it. Perhaps Orsin can sing a few lines from the play. Andrea skips up and gives Lucrezia a few baps to the butt with the crop as well.
Lord Mayor, perhaps we could arrange a limited reenactment of the other acts in a day so so? Nothing as dramatic as the final few acts of course, but a small personal performance in the great hall would let people appreciate the lines without all the explosions and ichor flying around
The crowd "oohs and aws" at the whipped, a few comment "put some back into that crop."
That is splendid idea but we are missing the devils and skelton trolls to truly reenact." He grins widely. "But perhaps John Deos and Duncan Redhammer can provide us a small showing of arms after the next curse, of course." He claps at the sound of particularly painful grunt.
There is nothing unusual from your point of view.
Gods get me away from this damn woman
Duncan ordinarily wouldn't mind talking booze. But he was a dwarf of action. This sitting around was accomplishing nothing.
Orsin kindly excuses himself from Calseinica's presence once more, moving to where Duncan is visibly exhausted by his present company.
"I beg your pardon, my lady, but I must borrow my fellow survivor for a moment," Orsin gestures for a servant to refill her goblet, "Please enjoy the party."
After getting Duncan away from Mrs. Tilernos, he whsipers, "The majordomo is off somewhere and if I get her alone, I might have a shot at getting her to reveal which mirror is the portal to the Knot."
"Care to help me look for her?"
Orsin and Duncan, she is not in the dining hall, the honey room, the fruit tree room or the entrance hall.
"Well, sh*t. I don't think we're allowed in the kitchens, if that's where she is... We may have better luck looking for the mirror on our own. I have doubts though that we'll have much luck using a simple detect magic spell. If the mirror is truly a portal to an extra-dimensional pocket plane it's likely to have its magic cloaked, wouldn't it? Let's just return to the party."
Better just nibble on the edges for next course John. Or else you won't fit into your armor.
Andrea is wondering if she wasn't the only Urgathoian back before she had her conversion. This place was ripe for some lay followers.
Andrea will comment to Duncan about the possibility of her wrapping a drunk noble around her finger and going upstairs for a little after-shame scouting.
Do want ye want girl, ain't none o my business what low, underhanded, cunning, lack of self respectin', beneath ye acts ye resort to. None at all.
Lucrezia will make her way over to the mayor again. "I was wondering if you'd care to see what kind of marks that crop left on my fair skin?"
Thank you Duncan, I can always count on you letting me know exactly how you feel.
Andrea leans in. Thank you for guarding my body that night at the Grotto. You are a good man.
Andrea pecks him on the forehead and heads off.
"I don't think that the act will be the only thing that's 'beneath her', Duncan," Orsin jokes.
"Frankly, we're running out of options. Where has Tweaker gone off to?"
John will join the others conversation. "He might have run off to investigate the hidden door in the northern room"
Tweaker will go in Eeyore voice This food looks weird. Imma going to go look at the roses. They look nice. Are there bees making the honey?
Tweaker will look around the table as he leaves to see reactions while seeming to be oblivious to see if anyone is taking interest in him.
Tweaker will make sure no one is watching him as he nears the corner.
Tweaker will then try and hide in the shadows as he can to work on the door as silently and quickly as possible.
Tweaker will go in the door and try not to be gone more than 10 minutes.
Andrea does fire off to Orsin that I think everyone here is too blasted for the next gossip bit about the Grulios trying to find their son's killer and hiring someone to come in. Perhaps tomorrow.
Andrea waits until after the next course to find someone to flirt with and suggest they show her their etchings upstairs.
Tweaker what are you doing next? I put you on the map in the secret passage there are two ways to go you see small door handles at both ends of the hallway.
Tweaker will see if the south door is trapped and locked but then will head towards the west and do the same thing.
He is not planning on going too far and then will return.
Lucrezia will make her way over to the mayor again. "I was wondering if you'd care to see what kind of marks that crop left on my fair skin?"
The Mayor happily traces your welted skin with his chubby fingers. "Mmmm, your skin is warm at the welts...enticing." His breath is heavy and labored. "Perhaps a private private viewing later is in order? Maybe my hand would be so honored as to wield the crop next."
"A private viewing would be best. After all, it's so hard to feel the crop hitting my flesh through all these layers of clothes. Perhaps we could remove some later on and you can watch the welts form on my skin."
He nods in agreement. "Yes after the party, I can send for you."
The waiters begin to walk in room carrying large trays, one for each guest. The Mayor giggles, "Excellent...my favorite course of the night. Bonn-appetite."
He looks around and grimaces. "Oh my, we cannot begin this course without out esteemed Fool" He clicks his fingers and a waiter comes forth, "Get a few servants to help find our guest, he may be in the privy."
He smiles half hardheartedly and waving off the food for everyone.
Neither door is trapped Tweaker.
Tweaker cracks the west door.
He sees a busy food prep room that has 8 people scurrying around getting things ready. There is sudden urgency coming from the room with unidentified voice. Everyone stops wheat they are doing as they turn towards the voice. "Have anyone seen the Fool?"
Andrea eyes the tray and tilts her head as the Mayor asks for the Fool. Don't get caught Tweaker. Andrea thinks.
Andrea is slightly concerned that Lucrezia might get put into a position that she doesn't want to be in.
Not that I have any objections to a little paddling but considering the Mayor's preferences, it might get harsher then she wants it to be.
"We will wait for the next course until Tweaker rejoins us, I'm sure he must be in the privy." The Mayor comments but a bit perturbed by the delay.
Tweaker will backtrack and try to sneak back into the honey room with the rose bushes.
He manages to slip back inside the Honey room and there are several waiters in there. Stepping out from behind the roses."I can't believe I fell asleep in the roses, the wine must have gone to my head."
The waiter looks and nods at Tweaker escorting him back inside. Several folks look suspiciously at Tweaker when he gives that excuse, including the mayor.
"Now that he is back with us we can proceed with my favorite course." He motions for the waiters to reveal each guests tray.
11:00—The Ambrosial Serpents: A particularly unsettling course that
involves the guests eating live serpents that have been gorged
on drugged mice and other mind-altering substances. The snakes
are harmless.
Several of the guests clap a the delicacy. While there are a few raised eyebrows.
Ohahahaha! SOmeone kill me please.
:)
Oh...what the hell. Carpe Juglum
Andrea dings herself with Resistance and Guidance and scarfs a snake.
The mayor slurps his wiggly snake down like pasta enjoying every last morsel of the delicacy.