There was a glance cast towards the doors and her fingers curled back from the ebony and ivory keys as Amaranthine spotted that the four men from earlier had come into the room. Apparently it was growing close to that time but other than them and the woman at her side no others had come in the room as of yet. What was the point of performing with them if there was no one about? From what had been implied earlier there would be others. Others not in the group that arrived when she had. Others that had actually been invited, yet the manor did not seem to be buzzing with activity. That was until all of that changed. A look of worry was easily read on her features as she heard what sounded like a young girl screaming at the top of her lungs. It seemed to echo from some distance off and it was rather disturbing to hear.

Rising from her place, she thought better of the current situation. "Perhaps this is not the place to be," the small woman said as she grabbed her case and made a beeline for the door. Brushing passed the four men and making her way back into the Starry Salon. Seeing Quinton was still standing at his post currently did cause her to slow her pace. While there had been a member of the staff in the Ballroom with her, he had been in the balcony above. Had something happened he would have had no chance to intervene. Then again, if something happened would the staff even try to stop it or would they care? She wasn't sure. Better safe than sorry since apparently there was at least one person in the manor who was having issues. Who could have screamed though, that pitch could have shattered crystal from the sounds of it.

"Yeah we shouldn't really keep the man waiting at all." Captain Moss said to both Penance and Rave, as he gave Jasper a slight nod as he started to make his way through the Grand Vestibule, he was still pretty amazed at the whole entire room itself. He could hear some music being played as well, as Moss made his way up towards the stairs. He started to wonder what the lord of the manor would actually be talking to them about as well. Captain Moss was close to the stairs when he stopped for a moment as he could hear a girlish scream suddenly coming from the lower floors.

Captain Moss started to wonder what else was happening now as he started to get a bit worried that something else maybe happening from one of the lower rooms. He looked towards Rave, as well as Penance as well wondering if the two of them heard it as well, and if they would end up being in danger as well. "Should we go and check it out?" Captain Moss asked Rave, and Penance as well but he also wasn't sure if he should just ignore the scream or continue to the Lunar Ballroom.

Creme nodded at Amaranthine's question, "I didn't see all of it, " She said, as the woman rose from the chair, "But there was a man who was stabbed in the foot, I do believe." She however, did not follow her up. This was where she was supposed to be, she thought. This would be where things would be happening, with everybody coming here. Even if it would soon stop being a quiet respite, she would rather be where she's supposed to be than hide and try to keep her head down. Giving a small wave goodbye, she kept her seat on the piano chair, ready to move should anybody actually want to play.

Resting her hands in her lap, she focused her attention on the men entering the ballroom. She believed she had seen them shortly in the Breakfast room, and she did wonder exactly who they were. They didn't arrive with the rest of them, but it just didn't seem like they were with the other guests, since, as far as Miss Creme knew, there were no other guests in quite yet. She didn't have any intent on reaching out to talk to these people though, their business was their own business after all, and she was fine with it staying that way.

A tapping at his noggin, pecks sharp and rapt. Upon his forehead another wound, picked at by the flock, black feathers that surrounded his slumped over form. Passed out upon the floor, in quite the nasty heap, the visions of the murder fluttered in his daze. Black beaks, beady eyes, cawing and crowing, feasting upon his flesh as they tore skin from bone. There they stripped him of his hair, as his hands lay in Promethean chains helpless to watch them devour him alive. His silent screams, his unmoving struggle, betrayed by the company he kept. They peeled his scalp back, their scratching claws digging into his brow, revealing the porcelain calvaria. A fortress of intellect and seat of wisdom, encased in the ivory dome, bashed in by the birds trying to crack a precious egg. Over and over, they assaulted, pounding over his brow with every pulse of his telltale heart. His eye rolled back in horror to see the dark demons arm themselves with stones to strike. And there one turned and screamed: Wake Up, Wake Up!

Wake up. Wake up. A splitting headache as if someone had been tap dancing on Plum's brow. Throbbing at the temples, still lying on the floor undignified. Who had smote him so? With such impunity? Stabbed and beaten, this night was quite a night. But before his death he'd take his vengeance, a curse upon this lot and house. A taint upon these damned perverse, and may his ill spirit usher the fall. For now his wrath would wait, as his list grew longer and longer. Hatred wore itself a mask, as the pretender played, biding his time to strike. But though the front of his mind bore the thoughts of sweet reciprocity, twas the back which wondered how much bile and poison could fill this cup?

Oh there was fuckery afoot and plenty of it to spare. In the Joyous Corridor a bird was flapping around and the woman that was in the Billard's room with Mauve was watching it from the doorway as it flew this way and that. Turning her head slightly she spotted that Mauve had woken up. "I see you are finally awake, have a good nap?" she asked before she turned back away from the girl. She did so just in time as the bird swooped into the room. The maid had to duck to keep from getting hit in the head. Scowling she stepped out of the room and slammed the door. Leaving Mauve alone in the room with the bird as it landed on the billard's table.

That was about the time a scream echoed out in the place. It couldn't be heard in rooms with closed doors save for the Joyous Corridor as it was right there. However in the Breakfast Room, the Grand Vestibule, the Central Hallway, the Starry Salon, the Lunar Ballroom, the Courtyard, and the Trophy Room - they all could hear it to varying degrees of clarity. It sounded like a highly distressed woman had just been either attacked or scared to death by the pitch and volume of the scream. This would get most people's attention, especially the staff.

Each staff members head went to turn in the direction of the noise but none of them moved from their post. Save one. That was Jasper. Whose elderly face looked both worried and vexed as he heard the crashing sound of wood breaking and cutlery hitting the floor a moment later mixed in with the sound of the scream. He didn't say anything to those that were being directed in the direction of the Ballroom. Leaving his place and rushing quickly for a man of his years into the breakfast room. Only to stop in his tracks and look up at Titian who was standing on the table, stopping just short of hitting his head on the chandelier. "What in bloody hell are you doing on my table!" he demanded to know.

The four men looked back towards the noise and then over towards Amaranthine as she bolted out of the room. Nodding towards her as she left but turning their attention towards the little woman still sitting at the piano. Three of them gave her the once over but moved more towards the center of the room while the dark hairs man with blue eyes moved towards the piano. Running his gloved finger over the wood before looking more directly at her. "It does sound like something awful has occurred. I do not blame you for rushing to the danger. Something about fools rushing in. So, let us pass the time, how are you this evening?" he asked as he stood there, not yet taking a seat.

(Cobalt and Blush will receive PM's shortly)

It was obvious that Titian couldn't believe what he had just seen and he didn't stop screaming until Jasper came running into the room. It was then and there he realized just what he had done. His hands coming down from his face and looking back at the man shaped whole in the door he had left in his wake. Clearing his throat he reached up and pushed the chandelier to the side a bit so he could look directly at the man. Suddenly the once appearing scared little girl was puffed up like a man's man! "Right horrible situation. Yes, that bird brain attacked the doctor and my word. the little dove that was on my arm tried to defend him. Sadly I think she shot the doctor by mistake!" he said very loudly as to be sure he was heard.

Jasper looked in disbelief at Titan and then the door. "So you screamed like a little girl and broke the door?"

Titian chuckled and nodded proudly. "Of course! People always come to the aide of a woman faster than a man. As far as the door goes. It jammed, one has to use brute force sometimes," he said flexing his biceps before leaping off the table in a dramatic fashion. Too dramatically for he landed with his boot catching the side of the table and landed flat on his well formed ass. Sighing a bit he chuckled. "This, this is a nice floor."

Even the voice of the strange girl caused lances of pain through Cobalt's aching head, and he closed his eyes, enjoying the slight respite of the sweet darkness for a moment, before summoning the strength to open his eyes again. He saw that the girl had moved out from behind the pillar, only by a little, but enough for him to see her better. Her eyes never seemed to settle on one thing, constantly darting around, always seeming to avoid looking at the candles that burnt around the room. Struggling, he sat upright, although the effort made his head throb. Pressing one hand to the side of the head, he had to ask himself the same question that had just left her lips.

In truth, his head was starting to ache a little less, and he could feel the room spinning slower than it had when he had first woken up. He'd recover, but that was the extent of his self-diagnosis. He still didn't know what had caused him to suddenly pass out, and he certainly didn't know where he was, or how he had come to be waking up in this strange chapel. His throat was still painfully dry, and he glanced across at the girl, managing a weak smile, ignoring how rough his voice sounded when he spoke.

"I've been worse. I could use a drink though. Some water perhaps? Please."

The loud, flat sound of spark set to powder deafened Swamp, if but for a fraction of a second. He barely registered the commentary made by his all too eager "medical assistant", recalling it in hindsight after a foreign object tore into his side. Such audacity! Such unnecessary and fruitless betrayal! Why she would choose that highly uncertain moment, and him of all people as a target was utterly beyond his superior intellect to fathom. Yet her words left no chance for error in determining intent. Swamp used the fraction of a moment that it took to hit the wall and regroup to assess himself, and the appropriate course of action.

Titian had apparently used the moment to run through the door (note, door, not doorway), shrieking like a debutante in a leper colony. It seemed he had some things to assess for himself, too.

It was a momentary hover against the wall, friction keeping him standing for just a short moment before his inevitable slide down the vertical surface to roughly come to rest, sitting upon the floor. Beneath his mask, eyes darted around his surroundings, taking in the tiniest details that could be brought to bear favorably upon his situation. Despite his position, sitting and bleeding upon the floor, the Doctor began to giggle softly. It was fast turning to the quietly maniacal, as if his vantage had allowed for clarity somehow and he was now the keeper of a tawdry secret. He could clearly hear the words of Titian and Jasper in the next room, but seemingly ignoring them, he addressed the lady who had just shot him. "Indeed it is fun, Professor. But not for the reason you might think." Pain tinged his words as he spoke louder, that others nearby might hear, "You mustn't blame yourself, Professor. It was a honest mistake. Thank you for trying." Dr. Swamp's mask slowly bobbed up and down once as he nodded at the woman, eyes fixed with a mirthful, knowledgeable look.

Rave had just about bolted through the door for the Starry Saloon, when she heard what she would only explain like the shriek of a woman who was not having a good time. She froze in place as she gave Moss a blank look for a few moments. This had completely shocked her out of it as she was trying to process his words. She was torn between different possibilities and finally decided on her personal course of action.

“I'm not going...” She stated, throwing a look back in the direction of where they came from.” There are other people who could deal with it and would be probably well better suited to doing so. Our presence might be a nuisance... “ She explained, but her voice was filled with notes of concern and some fear. Truth it she was afraid and frankly her fear of the Lord of the manor was overpowering her desire to help. That and the fact a scream like that was scary.

With that said, she braved into the Starry Saloon. There were a few things that came to her attention right away. 4 couches were arranged in the place and the place was still quite big. The big door ahead had to be the one to the ballroom. The final thing that stuck out was that there was a person in the saloon. One of the ones who arrived like her.” Hello.” She gave a little greeting, wondering as of why the woman was here and not in the ballroom.

Blush collected herself, fixed her dress, and made her way into the room. She was immediately impressed with the decor, but at this point she should not have been surprised. The decor was grand and presenting. As if the room itself was saying "You better be worth my time" to whoever entered. She would not be pushed away though, she was damn well worthy of it.

But she knew she had a mission and should not waste time since she did not know if she would ever be called upon or looked in on. So she scanned the room. She noted the desk especially. Really, desks often begged to be searched.

In fact, her search of the desk was not fruitful at first. However, what was probably the result of a quick put away. A false bottom proved that Blush was correct in her search. She found something inside the desk and knew it was important, though she didn't know why. The way this object looked suggested a recent use, perhaps too quickly. It also solidified that Margarete, the woman who brought her up there did not expect her to find this or she did not know, which was interesting also.

Blush took the object and pocketed it. She would find a use for it later. For now, she had more mansion to explore.

Penance nodded her head simply at the others. It was a bit rude to keep someone waiting, even if they were a more than unwilling host. That was an even larger reason to be punctual, don't want to cause the man any more inconveniences than one already has. "Let us continue onwards then," she said simply, before following the other two through to the central hall. Then she heard that wretched sound coming from near the area that they had just been in.

Now who in the world could have let out a scream such as that? It was a horrid sound, and it was a bit hard on the ears. Why would someone just scream like that? The least they could do is run from room to room screaming, that way at least more people would likely be interested in what it was that they were screaming about. "We could see what it is that is going on, it did seem to be coming from the area that we were in a few moments before. It is your choice whether or not to go, I personally would prefer not to. As we shouldn't keep our host waiting any longer. He likely has been waiting long enough after all, not to mention as Rave said, there are likely better people to help than us."

Someone had been stabbed? There was a look of worry crossing the woman's masked face as she had exited the Lunar Ballroom. And now she had heard screaming. That was why she had left the Ballroom. That among other reasons. Four of them she passed on her way out. Now being in the Starry Salon and about to retrace her steps back towards the front of the manor she was struck with the fact that others were making their way towards the Ballroom and not in the direction of the commotion. Her fingers tightened around the handle of the case she carried and she held the satchel itself against her chest as one of several coming in her direction entered the Salon. "Evening," she returned in a bird like voice.

The woman was masked like she was, as was everyone she had met so far. She had seen her when she entered the gate earlier but hadn't seen her again since she had wandered off into the Joyous Corridor some time ago. Granted, Dr. Swamp and Justice Cobalt had been keeping her company up until recently. Neither of them seemed to be part of the group that was coming this way. This woman was far taller than she was, by at least half a foot from the looks of things. Leaning slightly she peered through the doors of the Starry Salon into the Central Hallway before looking back at the suit dressed and horned masked figure in the room with her. "Dare I ask what happened now?" she inquired, not sure if she wanted an answer or not at this point. Maybe it would be better to stick with her music.

Walnut sighed slightly in frustration as Titian quite literally burst from the room, screaming at the top of his lungs. There had been such potential there for a partner or accomplice - mostly relating to his muscles and his seeming fascination with her, certainly. And while it appeared that Walnut had dodged a bullet with Titian, Swamp had not been so lucky. She had not yet lowered her gun as her eyes then swept back over to Dr. Swamp, seeing the man sink against the wall and begin to laugh.

How foolish and simple a man he had turned out to be. Master Plum was still unconscious and Mr. Titian had created a large hole in the wall. Assessing the situation, Walnut considered her options. She could shoot Plum and end the man's life. She could shoot Swamp and ideally end his as well. She could shoot through the hole and attempt to kill Mr. Titian - a shame that would be. Or of course, there was the nonviolent option of shooting no one at all. "Oh my, oh dear, I shot Dr. Swamp! Let me rectify that!" Walnut said, her face was void of emotion as she looked at Swamp. Her quip could potentially be read as sarcastic or as genuine - Swamp and Titian would most likely know it to be the former.

Walnut then shot at Dr. Swamp once more. The gun however did not seem to have murder on its agenda, as it backfired and shattered in her hand. She yelped in surprise at the burning hand, dropping the pistol and she looked at her hand for a moment. Now she was also in need of a doctor. Perhaps it was funny in a strange way. Perhaps it was terrifying.

She regretted nothing.

GM Note: Walnut takes 1 point of damage.

Captain Moss looked between both Rave and Penance and nodded slightly, he certainly didn't want to go down there and find out what the hell the scream was coming from or what had actually caused it in the first place. "Id rather not find out what it is either." Captain Moss said calmly as he started to climb up the rest of the steps. Moss didn't want to know if that was another body turning up or not, and he already seen one person getting shot up into the sky by a rocket chair. Once he was at the stairs to the Starry Salon again he turned his attention towards Chanteuse Amaranthine. "Good evening." Captain Moss said giving her a friendly smile.

Then she started to bring up what had caused the loud girlish scream from one of the rooms down below, he wasn't sure what to make of it either. "I am not sure, we were on our way up here when the scream had happened." Captain Moss answered, he figured that the staff would be able to find out what it was exactly and what caused it, and maybe help out as well.

Jasper didn't seem to know what to do for a moment as the rather large man suddenly lost any ability in his feet and his balance and hit the floor like a sack of hammers and ten times as heavy. He just stopped and eyed the man, half in annoyance and half in just plain surprise. That was until the sound of a gun firing rang out and there was a yelp from the next room over. Moving with a swiftness not common with someone of his obviously advancing years he moved passed the behemoth of a man on the floor, opening the remains of the door which fell apart in his hand, and into the next room. When he got there he spotted Walnut first, the broken gun second, and then two men on the floor last. Still holding the door knob he looked around slowly, his eyes sweeping the room from the men to Walnut, to the fireplace, and back again. "Just what in bloody hell is going on in here?" he asked sternly.

The rest of the place seemed quiet, that was until the sound of a gun rang out and echoed into the Central Hallway and Starry Salon. (From when Walnut shot a second time.) Being that there had been a hole in the door this time, it could be heard, where as the first shot could only have been heard in the room itself as the door was still solid at that point. The tall and handsome man standing at his post in the Starry Salon jerked his head in the direction where the sound came from and started to move. "Ballroom is that way," he said pointing behind him before he moved in long strides into the Central Hallway.

There, Jasper was eying the people in the room when there was a jingle on the door that lead from the Music Room into the Joyous Corridor. His brows started to lower as it continued. It seemed whoever was on the other side of the door couldn't get the door open. "Where is the key..." he muttered under his breath but loud enough to be heard as he looked back at the three in the room. More actually he looked at Walnut and then Swamp since they were the only two that seemed to be awake at this point.

(Cobalt and Blush will receive PM's shortly)

As Titian sat there, he just wore a shit eating grin on his lips. An dram draped over one knee as he looked towards the fireplace. Chuckling to himself he just shrugged as if to say zero fucks were given at that moment. That was until he heard another gun shot and Jasper bolted out of the Breakfast Room and into the Music Room. His head turned and he could only see that Walnut was still standing. He couldn't see much more besides the broken pieces of her gun on the ground beyond the crumbled door. "Whoops," he said but it wasn't clear if he was speaking about the broken gun or the broken door or even his broken ass. Not that anyone was in the room with him to hear it under his breath, so it didn't really matter.

Reaching up he placed a large hand on the table and pushed himself up. Dusting off his shapely, and oh yes it was shapely in his opinion, rear end. Now, there was a choice to make and to make a choice required thought, consideration, and am ample amount of brain power. There were so many factors to consider. Titian's brain though seemed to be on holiday as he reached over the table and popped a grape into his mouth. Chewing it he bobbed his head as if there was music but only he could hear it. Then he started waltzing down the side of the table. Picking up a glass and pouring himself a smidgen of wine. Washing it down he kept grinning to himself as he picked up a bunch of grapes and kept waltzing out of the Breakfast Room into the Grand Vestibule. Whatever thoughts he may had had were long gone by this point and he was just eating and dancing his way to god only knew where.

Rave smiled at the woman who appeared somewhat shorter than her. When the question came, it was Moss who first replied. She threw a look at him and nodded.” There was a wounded person and we were asked to leave and not hinder the doctor and now the scream happened... maybe someone got stabbed again.” She replied with a slight concern in her voice. They were told pretty firmly to leave and not be a hindrance though, so she wasn't as worried. They had that big bear man with them, whatever happened shouldn't have been too bad...probably.

It was then that a gunshot echoed and she nearly jumped from surprise as she heard the gunshot echo out. Her head turned backwards with a shocked and nearly scared expression. What the hell was going on back there? She threw a look at the man who pointed the ballroom to them, which was already plenty obvious. He seemed to be heading to check what the heck was going on. Rave was pretty certain that gunshot at least probably weren't that common.

She looked at the others around.” We probably shouldn't go there. The people from the manor would surely gather up there and we will not be of any help by bumping around there.” She suggested to the others out of some concern regarding the situation and some instinct for self preservation. Frankly she was pleased well enough with having said her piece in this. With that out of the way she headed towards the ballroom again and walked through the doors.

She was left speechless by the place. This was the biggest place in the manor yet! The shape of the room probably made it appear even larger too. She spotted a piano though, then there were some people there too. The ones who arrived later if Rave recalled correctly the merry band of men and one woman of the group she arrived with. They didn't seem bothered by the commotion outside.

Naturally, Dr. Swamp was a little put off that he was shot, and further that his powers of observation did not allow him to detect the presence of a second barrel on the Professor's weapon. Such a detail might have led him to alter the decision-making process. Lucky for him, it did not work out exactly as planned for his newest adversary. First Plum, now Walnut? Such a story might be unbelievable, were it not to have been corroborated in part by Titian. He blinked, even flinched as the striker clicked home, promising a swift delivery of the barrel's contents into his body, again. But a bang and flash later, and Walnut joined the blooded within the Music Room.

Swamp held his cane before him and braced, pushing himself to his feet while leaning heavily upon the wall. The trail of his blood upon leading upward was testament to the fact that he was not having a stellar evening. He punctuated Jasper's entrance with a sigh of relief - be it that he was not officially an "invited" guest, he held a tiny bit of hope that the staff would at least pretend to maintain the relative peace of the household. The Doctor opened his mouth to answer the man when the door handle opposite of them jiggled, as if someone wished entry. He needed to speak, before more people complicated the situation further. "Sir, if you would?" he began, injury accenting his voice, "I cannot assume the first shot was an accident any longer. This woman... shot me after this man lured me in here and attacked - and tried to again! Were it not for the misfire, I would surely be dead. They should be restrained for everyone's safety." As he spoke, he sought to catch the houseman's gaze, silently attempting to signal in the direction of the prone man. "There is trickery at work here."

Creme looked up in shock at the piecing scream. She covered her mouth, concealing a frown that was contorting on her face. That was harrowing for sure, but wouldn't be rushing towards the danger. She'd just be in the way if she tried. Staying here would be better for her, and everybody involved for sure. As she stayed put in her seat at the piano, she turned her head towards the man addressing her, a bit surprised that somebody had decided to take notice of her. She cleared her throat and smiled, "Well, it's been an experience." She said sweetly. Those are the kindest words she could muster about the way the night had been going.

She extended gave a curtsy and introduced herself, "Miss Creme." She said lightly, before smiling at the man before her. "And how, may I ask, are you?" She asked him. She recognized that he was part of the four unmasked men, which make her wonder if she'd end up finding out about why they were here. They seemed to have been mostly floating about from her brief experience with them, but surely they had some real purpose for being around. She did take her seat again, not wanting to continue the conversation standing

The answer from the girl wasn't what he wanted to hear, and the brief hope of a drink had only made his throat drier. Trying to ignore it as best he could, Cobalt managed a smile. Since he had woken up, his groggy senses had been straining for some clue, any slight sound, that could tell him where he was, but there was nothing. He didn't even know if he was even still in Shadowell Manor. His only companion seemed to be growing in confidence at least, and he watched as she stepped out from behind the pillar. The dress she wore was as pale as she was, and Cobalt saw her eyes still flickered around, never staying still, even when she looked straight at him.

Her voice was soft, and for that at least he was grateful, his head still throbbing slightly, and he certainly wasn't opposed to her suggestion. Someone had dragged him here, and from the sounds of it, it wasn't the girl. He didn't fancy hanging around to find out who it was, certainly not in the state he was in. He braced himself for the effort of rising to his feet, or at least attempting to.

Clambering to his feet, Cobalt managed a weak smile towards the girl again, as he gestured slightly. He was getting stronger with every passing moment, for that he was thankful at least.

"Please. Lead the way."