Taraz accepts the cat's affection with pleasure and rubs her fur. He nibbles on the sandwich, looking with concern towards the Ladies' Room.
Returning his gaze to the Duchess, Taraz smiles. "It sounds as if I owe my life to you and Ingilstadt then." Taraz regards the down-on-his-luck noble. "Despite my uncharitable behavior no less."
Inclining his head, Taraz says simply, "Thank you, Ingilstadt."
"You're welcome, Taraz. To be fair, I was a bit into my cups and picked a fight with you, as well as others, so your uncharitable behavior may have been warranted."
With a glance towards the helmet cat, "It seems I've displayed that behavior a few times."
Wowbagger nods to Taraz, "Now that is one powerful Baner, the new model, sometimes called the Lazarus Baner. Well done Taraz. By the way, here are the keys to your space yacht. I made some after market modifications with I-drive."
Wowbagger tosses Taraz some keys with the words 'Don't Panic' prominently displayed on a keychain.
Wowbagger nods to Taraz, "Now that is one powerful Baner, the new model, sometimes called the Lazarus Baner. Well done Taraz. By the way, here are the keys to your space yacht. I made some after market modifications with the I-drive."
Wowbagger tosses Taraz some keys with the words 'Don't Panic' prominently displayed on a keychain.
Several minutes after the servant brings fresh clothing to the ladies room, Cassie and Rashida emerge looking much refreshed. Rashida's eyes immediately search for Taraz. Seeing him still sitting up and taking refreshment, she smiles. The smile grows as she crosses the room and pulls up a chair next to his, where she sits beaming. "Are you well, Lord Rorenson?" she asks softly.
Having completed his snack, Taraz is now stroking the Duchess. "Upon seeing you return looking fresher and more lovely than ever, I am indeed."
Looking over her new outfit, Taraz is appreciative. "And the snakes and mask still match excellently, I see." Taraz smiles.
Wowbagger tosses Taraz some keys with the words prominently displayed on a keychain.
Taraz smirks at this. "I am trying harder than you know."
He glances in Alessandra's direction.
"If Mr. Gorski and Ms. Kimefe do not rescind their votes, if we want to avoid bloodshed, I would suggest creating a tie in the voting..." says Meowselsworth, considering that, "I'm willing to be the other one voted for to equalize the voting. Frankly, as others have said, I think the assassin should just confess. The checkmate is visible and inevitable, checkmate in four, it is just a few painful turns of waiting..."
"The votes must not be tied. I shall vote for the Vorian Ritter." At Taraz's seemingly miraculous resurrection Andrezi smiles. "My friend the Lord of Serv-bots lives!" He shouts, hugging the man in a classic Cossack bear hug. "A good day this is, we shall all survive this night of destruction that need to do so."
"Not all, evidently," Vorian says with grim satisfaction, finding his cane right where he had left it. Holding it upwards he says with a wry smile, "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me."
Lowering it, he looks to the others, offering the rough equivalent of a shrug.
"Death will come to me, sooner or later - meanwhile I wait. But I am confident that by this game's end, those of you that survive will leave with far more than mere land."
"Er, Mr. Denikov, we must tie things up in order to be certain that we do not slay an innocent... We are not certain of Lord Ritter's identity..." says Meowselsworth, "We have three votes for Mr. Ritter. To create a tie, we would require three votes for me. Not more than three votes for me, so be very very careful if we go this route! I would rather that everyone simply retract their votes."
Cassies' pale face has been cleansed of all cosmetics, her pale golden-skin stands out against the dark dress. Assymmetric the hem hits her mid-calf seemingly flowing as she walks, still with the split up the leg however now to her outer thigh is strapped the silver 'flint-lock' pistol. Glinting as she moves with each stride, the silver and mahogany weapon is obviously not primitive or generic. The V-neck cut of the gown emphasizes, amongst other things, an intricate and beautiful sapphire pendant with silver surround, that she tried to hypnotise Von Zombie with earlier.
Cassies mask is now a deep red with silver braiding around the perimeter. Made from some silk, or other soft material, to match her gloves that reach her elbows.
She picks up a flute of wine in one, hand the other has her lace fan. Looking around the group for once she is silent...
Rashida's smile fades when Andrezi speaks against the hapless Ritter. "No, wait! Lords Denikov, Gorski, Wowbagger - I understand your wish to be done with this, but please do not let us do so with the slaughter of innocents until finally the assassin's name is announced!"
She rises as if to resume her habitual pacing, golden sandals peeping from the hem of a blood-red sheath dress with geometric patterns picked in gold thread. She fiddles with the snake bracelets, which apparently found their way back to her in the confusion of smoke and blood following Von Zombi's spectacular death. Instead of pacing, this time she simply steps behind the chair where Taraz is seated and lays one long hand gently on his shoulder. The contact seems to bring a measure of calm to the normally fidgety Rashida.
"I have not spoken well before. Forgive me. But please listen. We do not need to lynch anyone. The assassins are deadlocked and cannot strike, because their chief has opted to live past this night with the one they love. Our Protectors will protect themselves and continue with their investigations. When they agree, they will denounce the assassin. The rest of us need but wait."
"Of course, it would be quicker if the only remaining assassin still under Von Ryuko's thumb steps forward NOW. It is the only power they have left. Assassin! Listen! No innocent has died this night. You are guilty of nothing so far. Speak, and end this futile silence!"
"The rest of you - Lords Denikov, Wowbagger, Gorski - please withdraw your vote. Do you understand what we have accomplished tonight? We have so far thwarted the Baron's desire to see us at each other's throats." She raises one long brown arm and points a gilt fingernail at the balcony, voice rising in anger as her burning gaze sweeps the assembly.
She pauses, then looks to Cassie. "That goes for you as well, Lady DuSollier! Your passion is commendable, but your haste may be regrettable."
Her raised hand slowly lowers to find Taraz's other shoulder and she subsides, bowing her head.
"I don't like it. For Cassie to have named Vorian the other assassin, then to repeal it. It's not rational. Then again, what has been rational this evening." The General gives a moment to thought, then finally breaks out laughing. "I must say, this has been enjoyable for this old man. Fine, let's see how this plays out. And an excellent game Von Ryuko! Though it's possible they might be coming for your head next."
Cassie's voice is cool and unlike usual; "Everything has been rational, it started of in the throws of passion. But now everything has been distilled down."
She slowly shakes her head as the General uses the word game. Her manicured finger nails tapping on the hilt of the barrel.
He shouts, hugging the man in a classic Cossack bear hug.
"Ooof!" Taraz winces slightly, as the hug compresses his wound a little painfully. "Thank you...my friend. And it wasn't so miraculous as due to the timely intervention of Ingilstadt and the Duchess."
Taraz looks up and over his shoulder at Rashida Massri and places one hand over the one she laid on his shoulder. "In addition to having a very good reason to return," he says gently and small smile very unlike his usual sneers.
Walking up behind the pair; she puts her hands around both their outer shoulders. Her voice distant; "I promised that I would protect you, forever.... but you have your own protector now."
Her voice breaks; "Lord Rorenson, I'm sorry. I didn't mean for you to nearly die... I hope you'll be happy."
Cassie stands slowly watching the pair she looks around the room. Walking to the balcony she plucks the red rose from her hair; already dishevelled she crumples it in her hand opening it so the petals are blown away on the humid night's breeze.
Watching them flutter away, she squints her eyes looking to the ball room. "So the hour is almost up. The party over."
Rashida gives Taraz's shoulders a little squeeze and drifts over to her friend. "Cassie DuSollier, you did protect me. You saved my life. I am forever grateful. Forever."
Watching the despondent adventuress carefully, she slowly moves closer. "The party is almost over, yes, but we've found true friendship here tonight. And there will be other parties where you may yet find more." She glances back at Taraz. "Come with us, Cassie! There are more funds to liberate, more tombs to explore, more dance cards to fill. There's no need to leave alone when you can leave with friends."
Cassie turns to the elegant dark-skinned lady, the smile not reaching to eyes. "I have seen the future, and I am afraid." her voice small and thickly accented. "I can see into your hearts. You don't need to be a seer for that. It's obvious in every movement, fleeting glance or tentative touch.... he's besotted with you."
Cassies eyes break to the ground; "I'm scared I don't want to be alone. I've seen it, you'll leave, they all go away. And I betray them all, it's my fault." Cassie stops, hesitantly guiltily "Duke Leto, with his broad shoulders and I betrayed him," her head turns inside looking to where he fell, the bloody smears still apparent.
"Gigus Von Zombi, he tried to rebel from his programming. And now Taraz, I didn't mean for him to be stabbed. I thought he would defend himself, but I couldn't hurt you. How do I tell him?"
Inside she sees the congregated party guests and knows she could not go to another, the vanity and guilt would destroy her. "You are my friend forever, but... I don't think..." Cassandra pauses...
Cassie walks across the ballroom, placing Rashida's hand into Taraz's.
She walks past the general Eldon and gives him a peck on the cheek, "Noble man, a good leader."
She walks over to Ingilstadt,giving the masked figure a chaste hug; "You don't have to choose between Terry and Chris, love will find a way. They will understand and perhaps even enjoy it." she says with a cheeky Parisian wink.
Approaching Kimefe; "Take the money; find a new man, do not be sorrowful over past and lost loves. Live for the moment, so of us cannot."
"Dame Devries, so passionate, so proper. Give in to your passions, let them consume you and consummate them. I keep my promises."
Cassie looks at the blood of the Duke on the floor crouching down to touch it. "Sorry, innocent blood should not have been spilt."
She gives a nod to Bors and Wowbagger tIP, watching them; before moving to Andrezi. "Noble Cossack, how we could have danced the party away. Our movements would have brought it too a stand-still and been the talk of society."
She moves to Jin, and standing on tip toes gives him a hug; "I'm sorry for all the trials, I trust you." she turns to Vorian.
Slowly stalking to him.... "I...I...am...justice." her words tumble like the tears from her eyes. "You have confessed your sins, I am sure He has forgiven you." her fingers touch the barrel of the pistol. "I wish it didn't come to this."
Coming face to face with him she tentatively kisses his cheek...then takes a step back.
"This is ridiculous. I'll not see anyone innocent die tonight over my mistakes... I vote for Meowselsworth in the hope that we can tie the voting and show the Baron that we will not give in to this hysteria he's cultivating!"
"I stand with Dame Devries, but only vote for the Duchess in protest."
"Cassie! Are you sure you want to do this? The burden of taking a life is a heavy one- or so I've been told. Do you truly want to pull the trigger yourself rather than rely on our other methods? It will be a simple matter for our ally to unmask him..."
"Cassie, don't be a fool!" Rashida takes a step towards the dangerous crazy lady.
"I don't want anyone to die. Yes if it's a tie, the other method is best." Cassies voice is distant, "But the result is on my shoulders."
Her breathing comes raggedly as the situation settles on her; but her hand is still.
"I know you forswore vengeance to honor Baron Von Zombi's wishes, but do NOT take the monster Von Ryuko's guilt upon your own shoulders! There is no justice in that in any sense. Now stop it!" Rashida takes a few steps closer to Cassie.
"It's my fault that he died, that the Duke died. I should not have danced with them - I shuld not have voted against them." Cassie flicks out a thin stiletto blade from her fan, whilst a bundle of psycho-tropic notes spill onto the floor. "Even Taraz, I signed his death-warrant." She looks Vorian in the eye seeing his acceptance.
Wowbagger votes for meows
Cassie finger her gun.
"Well, this seems like a good time for the party to get started."
"Beyond the beaten path lies the absolute end."
"If Meows is innocent, I will use the helmet cat resurrection device that worked on Taraz."
Cassie lifts the Flintlock Pistol to Meowlesworth and pulls the trigger.
Vorian stood still, ready to face his death. But as Cassie moves her arm to change her aim, a look of sheer horror passes over Vorian's face.
"No, not her! What are you doing?!"
Too late to act however, the gunshot rings in his ears. With the Duchess dead, Vorian slumps to the ground, shaking his head. Visibly shaken, he looks to the others, his eyes wet with tears.
"Why? This wasn't supposed to be how it happened! What have you all gained from this?!"
"Then you should have voted against Jin with us, Vorian, as we had requested, and an assassin would have gone to his grave instead."
Rashida raises her hands to her head in horror. "Cassie! What...!"
She stoops to pick up Meowselsworth's furry body, cradling it. "Brave thing, she would not have begrudged her life to find the real assassin. She shall sleep with the immortals."
Rashida looks at Wowbagger. "Because now we know, don't we?"
Wowbagger takes the helmet cat resurrection device, and applies it to Meowelsworth. It worked on Taraz, it should work on the cat.
"Some of you don't know the full story. Von Zombi and I had to meet by taking a chance. Von Zombi made damaging admissions to the cat. Those damaging admissions were given knowingly to the chief assassin so he could make sure von Zombi was an assassin. When the chief assassin sent this information to the secret cabal they started a vote to lynch him. The chief assassin has not made a single kill this game, and makes sure no kills ever occur except with extreme luck. So I will end this by executing myself."
Wowbagger then draws a pistol and kills himself.
Cassie is in shock; "I...I...am...Justice." she looks across to Vorian and Rashida holding the dead helmet-cat. 'I knew she was innocent, yet I did the will of the people. She was willing to die, to reveal the traitor."
"I am Justice and Justice is blind." she places the smoking pistol in the holster. Slowly, carefully, the fan falls to the floor and leaving the dull thin stiletto blade. Held lifelessly in her hand she brings it to her face...
Then she stops;
She turns on him, eyes ablaze, "Sitting in a corner, hiding, of course you are the stalker. Vorian here at least he was brave in the face of death. We will see how you behave, much like you employer."
She looks around the Ballroom, "All these others, they have an ounce of back-bone heroism. Notice how I talked to the others said something about their character. But you hide." she shakes her head. "You are not worth my contempt."
Wowbaggers gasps with his dying breath, "Baron Ryuko, you have your vengeance. I regret the grave insult when I was almost through the R's and was in rare form. You have surely had the last laugh."
Cassie puts her arms around Rashida and Taraz, "She said she would be back, that a helmet-cat never truly dies. So to the temple of Bast?" she hugs the couple as they walk out of the ball-room silhouetted against by the moon.
"I heard about an Ancient Sumerian culture in Adab, they can help us restore Gigus...The adventure has only just begun..."
"And that's how I knew, that everything would be alright..."