The door bursts open suddenly, but the wizard is too quick and jumps back!
From the doorway emerges a large hairy beast in full battle armor, rage in his eyes and drool falling out of his mouth!
"crap." She said as she started running toward them.
what the hell is Henry doing?! she thought frantically as she ran.
"Henry! what do you think you're doing?!" she requested fiercely. "have you lost your senses?"
Caledon makes a subtle shift in his stance, bringing his feet to a shoulder-width toe-heel alignment some might recognize as a boxer's stance.
His mind then flashes back to the hundreds of hours hes watched knights and men at arm's train in heavy armor at his uncle's estate and tries to estimate whether Buckley is proficient with his armor.
When he hears Cashara he spares a quick look over his shoulder, his expression looking extremely relieved to see her before he masks it.
The beast raises to its full height and slams the door closed!
From what you can tell, it doesn't seem to be moving like its trained like a knight but the armor seems to be custom made to make up for his lack of knowledge.
DeVill steps closer, close enough to touch you while Cashara is still 30ft away!
"You're going to kill us all you arrogant fool!" he spits, his voice dripping with venom.
Cal hears Dr. Amp's voice ring out,
"This is your last chance wizard! Step. Away. From. The. Door. You too Mr. DeVill." She says this with a calm, steady, yet threatening tone.
Cashara looks around, trying to see if there is anything she didn't notice before.
I also wish to see if Henry's got something wrong with him.
I do get a little closer to do this. (Now 20ft)
"what is this all about doctor Amp?!" I ask. "a grudge? Revenge? Maybe just hate?"
I also scan to see if there is a reaction to this.
Sorry I had to do that. Things did not show up
The Vixen is almost positive that DeVille’s brains will be where the warning shot goes—but he and Cal are both in too deep, and the Vixen is too new to this superhero gig to blurt advice to her more experienced colleagues.
She instead focuses on the one she cares about most of those too weak to protect herself.
“Martha. Come to me, sweetie. It’s not safe for ye to stay put.”
She hopes Martha will go to her this time. The Vixen dares not make an aggressive move, for fear that appearing aggressive will frighten Martha toward the danger.
"Whatever sly little trick or attack you are attempting is what is going to get you killed. Step back or die."
@Cash
Your eyes scan the scene and you notice that the porch actually goes of the side of the plateau, about 20ft, and has a small ledge underneath it. Sitting on the ledge is... The missing guest, Tawny Frogmouth! You make eye contact with him and he lifts a slimy finger to lips, shushing you. The ledge he's sitting on sticks out from under the porch, but only about 2ft...
As you inch closer you inspect Henry, and other than the fact that he was dead the last time you saw him, his appearance hasn't changed. His skin still gray and wrinkly, his legs still too skinny to support the upper body, his eyes still devoid of life... You do notice that he is standing perfectly still.
You don't see Dr. Amp anywhere, but you still call out. There's nothing in till Henry's jaw falls open and Dr. Amp's voice replies,
"Oh. I didn't even notice you were gone... Well welcome back! Please join the others before I'm forced to kill one of them.
Martha glances over to you, fear sparkling in her eyes. She takes a breath and begins to sidestep towards you, keeping her eyes locked on Henry's gun. She makes in a few feet before she stops and gasps as Henry suddenly moves the gun upwards pointed at her.
Henry's jaw opens again and, "Ah, Ah, Ah. Stay with the group Miss Highcastle. Safety in numbers haven't you heard?"
The wizard warns the CEO, and that seems to be enough.
DeVill glances up at whatever is on the balcony, than at Caledon, than at Buckley. He gulps and takes a step back but his leg gives out! He stumbles back and let's out a yelp as he fall onto his butt in front of the rest of the guests!
Caledon rejoins the group.
Cashara seems to tense, even more than before.
"What the hell did you do to Henry?" She asked. she shook slightly, her eyes were cold steel.
She glanced over at Tawny in hopes of catching his glance again and moved her eyes in an upward motion.
She then looks back at Henry's corpse. she was giving it a death glare, knowing that it was the mouthpiece of Dr. Amp.
"why are you doing this? what do you have to gain?" she asks.
I want to pay attention to who Dr. Amp answers
VV puts herself between Martha and Henry’s gun. “So what do ye hope to accomplish, now that we’re all gathered here? If ye were just gonna do us in, we’d not’ve awakened.”
I might even repay that favor when I kick yer ass.
"Henry" answers Cashara,
"My dear, I'm also a woman of curiosity, but you must have some patience. If your all here and listening I can answer all your questions." It's rather hard to read her intentions when shes speaking though a emotionless corpse.
Tawny sees you but merely shakes his head no.
The doctor ignores the vixens remark and address the crowd. Henry's jaw drops open,
"Now. If everyone has calmed down, we can truly begin. If I'm being honest, I'm quite excited! But I suppose I should answer you questions first...
Henry here Is currently under my control. It's quite easy to control a corpse, you know! One merely has to send electrical currents though the body to stimulate the nervous system! But thats really not important. As for the reasons why I'm doing this... well... you could say that it's the last batch of experiments I have to do... It works best when I use people like you... As for what I have to gain, Miss Aivion, is well beyond your comprehension.
But all of that is not important! What's important is the experiment!
She continues as Buckley blocks the door and breaths heavily,
"You can think of this like a game of sorts... you see the rules are quite simple.
Their are three hunting cabins on the island. I wont tell you were they are but I will tell you that each of the cabins have a little challenge of sorts in them. The point is if all three challenges are complete, the ones still alive will be able to leave the island! Fun, yes? Of coarse, throughout the "game" I will be attempting to "eliminate" you. And before any of you start saying things like "why us" and "We don't deserve this", don't. Each and every one of you are well aware that you all terrible people. Now I don't care about that, but as I said these things work better that way.
Now, any questions?"
Now, one would expect to have someone claim that they have done nothing so heinous to have this happen, but as you look around the color drains from each of the guest faces.
DeVill almost falls over, only saved by grabbing onto a stock-still Minkins.
Martha slowly lowers her head and wipes her eyes.
Lance puts out his arms in front of Zulu and Hank, his face deadly serious.
Zulu and Hank face's have both tuned beet red and they they both appear to fighting the urge to rush forwards in a fit of rage!
“So this is revenge for Bluebeard? Is that me crime? Well, bring on yer game. But when I’m free to go, I promise ye, I won’t leave without saying goodbye.”
Cashara's mind raced as she tried to think of what she has done.
she was an ex-cop that got discharged for trying to clean up the department. she never knew her parents and had lost the only guy she loved, not having much to do with it despite her own feelings of responsibility. she had gotten into a few fights, she knew that, and there were plenty of people she had helped put away that would like to see her dead. but her mind sticks on her late partner.
she teared up with the memories and the full realization of whats going on and what has happened to Henry. she seems to stop shaking as the tears started to flow. she wanted to crumple on the ground and cry. but she stood.
"answer me one more question." she said after she had managed to calm her voice, to such it was almost a deadly calm of resolve. "why did Henry have to die?"
She stared at the now late Henry's corps that was being used as a twisted puppet by a sick twisted sciantist that she was really starting to hate with her very soul.
"First of all, I'm a damn saint. Second, with as few hunts as you have put on there is no way your sample size is large enough to be statisticly significant. That's just bad science.
His body jerks again and it's maw opens up. The doctor's voice then turns its attention to the gunslinger.
"A similar story for you my dear. But to answer your query, he didn't have too. It's simply to tie up loose ends. You see, this is a very important occasion because this is the last trial I have to conduct!
She then turns her attention to the wizard.
"Ha! A saint! Oh, I've heard that before. But no. You, much like everyone here, is a beast of pride. But you, like your friends, are here because you blame yourself from something out of your control. Your so full of yourself its honestly refreshing! And I do not take scientific criticism from people in your predicament.
Suddenly Henry jerks, and when his jaw opens again, the voice that comes out is Henry's!
"No, no, no, Miss Lane. Your here because your a self righteous b#*@! that's so full of herself that you blame yourself for something you had no part of and you continue to disrespect your "love" by flirting with any whore you happen to come across! Yes, THAT'S why your here, Miss Lane."
Addy replies to the corpse’s flirt-with-whores comment with a deadpan delivery, “But Wendy… the only one I flirted with on this island was you.”
@VV
Their is no reply from the controlled corpse.
Cashara seems to smile ever so slightly, but the tears kept coming.
"Have you ever been in that situation?" she asked. "I could have shot the one that killed him! I could have saved him! you think I'm not guilty? then why am I here? what else have I done? why else am I here if not for that?"
Caledon's expression grows thoughtful as he learns new details about his allies past and his foe's misconceptions...and motivation.
The voice crackles back to life with a,
"No one likes a smartalec Miss Lane. And no one likes a Whiner, Miss Aivion.
Now if you are all quite done, a few last things.
You will have a one hour head start, the house is off limits, I have turned off all surveillance except inside the cabins, Henry, and the house, and lastly, the boat you earn if you win can only hold four people so... Take that as you will. Any more questions?
“Will we be out o’ range o’ the magic dampeners?”
Cashara is still trying to deal with the situation. she seems to have frozen for a moment with the comment about being a whiner.
Her mind was racing with a plan to disable Henry's body but figured it would be likely to fail.
if only she had her guns. hold on.
She checked her thigh, thinking her derringer might still be there.
With a smile that doesn't touch his eyes. "I don't suppose I can convince you to give up your wicked ways and take up a life creating fine art?
Alas! When the gunslinger reaches for her weapon she finds that it not there!
The doctor seems to ignore the wizards sass and simply says,
"No, Miss Lane, you will not be. Now then, your one hour headstart starts... Now!"
With that, the controlled corpse walks backwards, reaches behind itself, opens the door, and exits the balcony.
Buckley glares at the guests and mimics the doctors actions, leaving as well. As his door closes you hear a loud screening metal sound and a loud click.
And so their you were. Practical strangers, standing around, wet and cold. Nervous, shocked, and suspicious glances are cast about as the rain starts to pick up again...
Suddenly, Mr. DeVill snaps his head to the direction of Minkins and Zulu!
"Did you say anything to anyone?"
His voice is threatening calm.
Minkins shakes his head vigorously.
"Of course not, you egotistical bafoon! You probably let something slip trying to seduce some whore!" Zulu shoots back, an odd mixture of fear and venom in her voice.
The elf tightens his belt and slowly starts to back away from the others, Hank fallowing suite.
As the rain begins in to a downpour and the shouting match starts Martha merely sinks to her knees and grabs the side of her head so hard that her knuckles turn white. She begins to weep heavily and sob out,
"No, no, no, nononononononono...
Cashara grit her teeth. The doc was going to pay for everything.
"Var, take care of Martha. Cal, how good are you with a knife?" she asks. The only other person she glared at was Mr. DeVill.
She started walking to one of the cabins. No need to waste time.
"My knifework is somewhere above your average man-at-arms but bellow your average Varisian Carny.
Caledon attempts to cast dancing lights
"It'll have to do. she muttered and handed him one of her two remaining knives. "we need to move out and watch each other's backs. no matter what, not even the slug DeVill, should be let to die without a fight. the best we can do is get through this, keep order, and keep hope."
she was certainly resolved, but she kept her voice low when she said this.
her face was as close to stone as it ever had been.
it's not just me, but someone has to take charge. she thought. the best we can do is keep moving and never give up. we'll do the damn challenges. and I'm going to kick Amps butt and make her pay for this.
"Var, you think you could lead us to the closest cabin?" she asked.
As you talk, the argument between the other guests grows louder!
"How dare you, you miserable hag! I've been the most careful out of all of us!", DeVill hisses.
"Pah! I bet you where drunk and told everything to some slutty barmaid! My grandpa Rainsford always said-" Zulu begins in a dismissing tone.
"No one cares what your grandfather thinks, Vivian!", DeVill interrupts his face turning red from shouting.
"I-i think that I've been the careful one V-vivian..." Minikins mutters with surprising venom.
"Really now, Mr. Write-everything-down?" screams DeVill!
"YES I DO!" Minkins suddenly bellows!
"Ah, yes, just leave me out of the plan like always, hm?" Zulu says in a low, harsh tone!
Martha let's out an anguished sob and Lance and Hank seem to have suddenly disappeared! The rain begins to pound heavily on the cobblestone and thunder booms over head!
Sadly the wizard feels nothing as he attempts to reach out into the arcane.