Romero

🦄 Machiavellian Masquerade - Chapter 1

Justice Cobalt

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Location: Shadowell Manor: Gun Room -> Joyous Corridor
Skills: N/A
Hit Points: 6
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Letting the door of the Gun Room swing closed behind him, Cobalt glanced down the by now familiar corridor. Empty. He found himself wondering just how much time had passed since he had followed Mauve into the Billiards Room. Mere minutes, or hours? Long enough to be missed? With no better idea, Cobalt decided to follow Analia's advice, and he moved across the corridor, towards the door opposite the Gun Room. But before he pushed it open, the thought of his previous companion made him hesitate, glancing back towards the door of the Billiards Room.

Cobalt still didn't know what had knocked him out, he still didn't know how he had woken up in the chapel beneath the house, and now that he thought about it, he didn't know what had happened to Mauve. Some part of himself wanted to walk into the Billiards Room, to try and find some clue as to what happened, but he'd been away from the main group for long enough already. Resolving to push on, Cobalt turned back, and pushed open the door before him. Once he had found his feet again, and found out if his absence had even been noticed, then he could begin to concern himself with what had happened to him, and more importantly, who was responsible.

🦄 Soulless Regency - Merged With T.S.

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William Fraser

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Location: Kirkpatrick House
Skills: Perception

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William hummed some half-forgotten tune to himself as he waited outside the door. Thankfully, the wait wasn't too long, and the door was opened. By a chef, if the flour he could see on her on her boots was any clue. At least it looked like they had come to the right place. The driver found his voice first, and William was quick to put on his most winning smile, in case it helped gain them entry. It seemed, however, that no charming was going to be necessary, the woman quick to invite them in before disheartening back inside herself.

Glancing back at the driver to make sure the other man was following him, William stepped inside the house for the first time. It was clear that they had come into the back of the house, he doubted that the gentry would get to experience the wall of smell that greeted them in the mud room. Thankfully, he didn't have the same delicate stomachs that the nobles boasted, and he doubted the driver did either. Moving over to the boot scraper, William began tending to his boots, before glancing up at the driver.

"Looks like we're in luck."

Boots suitably scraped, William stepped into the kitchen itself. Hesitating in the doorway, he glanced around for the woman who had let them in, hoping that she would be the key to them getting something to eat. Or to drink at least. Catching sight of her across the room, it seemed that she had already busied herself with preparing some plates.

Not wanting to get in the way, William stayed by the doorway, and passed the time looking around the room. He had always heard that you could tell a lot about a person by how they treated their servants, so he decided to put that to the test. To William's casual gaze, the men and women milling about in the kitchen all looked well, and from the looks of things, even seemed ot be enjoying their downtime, if the glasses a handful of them were sipping from was any clue. Deciding to wait, rather than intrude, William leaned against the frame of the doorway and watched the kitchen work.

🦄 Machiavellian Masquerade - Chapter 1

Justice Cobalt

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Location: Shadowell Manor: Gun Room
Skills: Charisma
Hit Points: 6
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After what felt like moments, but could just as easily have been hours, the girl reached the top of the stairs. Without hesitating, the girl pushed open a door, and stepped through it, more light flooding into the staircase. Taking a deep breath, and preparing himself for what would inevitably be another twist, Cobalt followed after her, stepping out into a room. He glanced around, not sure what to expect, and he was almost disappointing to see that the room seemed fairly ordinary. There was a window though, and although the weather outside had clearly not improved, Cobalt was relieved to see that he was no longer underground.

He watched in silence as the girl closed the door, and Cobalt made sure he made a mental note of the hidden door. He didn't relish the idea of descending to that strange chapel again, but considering what had already occurred since he had arrived at the manor's gates, he didn't know what shred of knowledge might potentially save his life. The girl seemed even more nervous now that she was above ground, almost ushering Cobalt out of the room. He moved to the doorway, as instructed, but with one hand on the door handle, he hesitated, and turned back to her.

"I am in your debt, m'lady. Might I know the name of my guide?"

"My name is Analia."

Cobalt smiled, bowing his head slightly.

"Thank you, Analia. I hope we can meet again in less unusual circumstances."

With that, Cobalt turned, and pulled open the door, taking Analia's advice to hurry.

🦄 Soulless Regency - Merged With T.S.

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William Fraser

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Location: Kirkpatrick House
Skills: N/A

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Not trained then, but the man could still clearly handle himself. William was glad that the man seemed to have warmed to him, and he watched as the driver took a seat on the step of his carriage. One thing that the other man said did pique William's interest though. A mouth to feed? His own, or someone else's? Before he could ask the question, the driver asked one of his own. William shrugged slightly as he spoke.

"I can't boast the same training that those who call houses like this their home can either, never had the time or the money for that. But I did spend time in Scandinavia, and I learnt some things."

William smiled, looking almost nostalgic for a moment, and subconsciously rubbing his right forearm. The moment was shattered by a burst of hoof-beats, and William turned to watch two men ride around the side of the house and rush past where the carriage stood, and out through the gate. William recognized one of them as Egerton, but he didn't have the chance to see the other. Regardless, he agreed with the driver. Unless Rutherford was about to leave Egerton behind, neither of them would be going anywhere anytime soon. William frowned slightly as he spoke again.

"That makes two of us."

Deciding to make the best out of their apparently prolonged stay, William turned back to the driver and smiled slightly.

"Well, if we're stuck here, then I plan to see if the kitchen has anything to spare. You're welcome to join of course, or I can bring some food or drink back here if you want to stay with the carriage?"

The driver nodded."Sounds good," he said as he stood up slowly and straightened his jacket. He figured might as well get something to eat since they seemed to be stuck there for now. Motioning for William to lead the way, he followed. He was a bit peckish after all.

William led the unusual pair towards the house, the gravel crunching beneath his boots as he walked. As they moved around the house, William allowed himself to admire it. He'd heard enough about the Kirkpatrick's to know that they were an influential family, and the ancestral home was suitably impressive. Eventually spotting the kitchen door, William strode towards it, glancing over his shoulder to check the driver was still with him before knocking three times.

🦄 Machiavellian Masquerade - Chapter 1

Justice Cobalt

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Location: Unknown
Skills: N/A
Hit Points: 6
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The passage that Cobalt found himself in was disorientating, despite the regular torches along the walls. The girl seemed to vanish suddenly, and Cobalt started forwards, eyes straining for another hidden doorway, before realizing she had simply turned a corner. She turned another, and then seemed to rise up into the air! Cobalt almost tripped over the bottom of the stairs that the girl had started to ascend. Cobalt tried to shake his head clear. Maybe it was the sense of the unknown, or maybe it was something more sinister, but Cobalt still didn't feel quite like himself.

On the bright side, with every step he took, he could sense the air becoming clearer. They seemed to be moving away from the choking smell of earth that had filled the strange chapel, and going upwards could only be a good thing. Cobalt stopped himself. Should only be a good thing. From what he'd already seen in this house, assuming he was even still in the house at all, he knew that nothing should be assumed, and that nothing was what it seemed. Cobalt almost stumbled again, and he snapped out of his wandering daydreams. Lowering his eyes, Cobalt focused on his feet. One step at a time. That, at least, he could trust.

🦄 Soulless Regency - Merged With T.S.

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William Fraser

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Location: Kirkpatrick House
Skills: N/A

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William nodded himself. The man was right, perhaps William was too laid back about the scene of carnage they had stumbled across. So many of his songs and stories seemed to revolve around the creatures that stalked shadows and nightmares that they were never far from his mind. But to see so many of them in the flesh? Or as close to it as those monsters could be to 'flesh'. That was a rare sight. William had been driven to train by his father's... he hesitated to call it paranoia, but that seemed to be the label that fitted best. But even with his training, he could count the times he had used it on one hand. Well, that wasn't strictly true. He used Gislid regularly during his travels, and he'd even used Ingulf from time to time, although he didn't tend to enjoy it. Now he cast his mind back, he'd even dabbled in Hadd. He shuddered at the thought. He lived for stories, but some of the things he saw in those dreams? They were enough, even for him.

Realising he hadn't responded to the driver, William felt his curiosity pique.

"Have you trained? If you don't mind me asking."

William wouldn't be surprised if the man wasn't. He knew that not everyone trained anymore, and if they hadn't just stumbled across the bloodshed that they had, then William would struggle to argue why it was even necessary anymore. But looking at the man standing in front of him, with his worn face, and a life of travelling through the open spaces between places people actually wanted to spend time, William couldn't help but think that he at least knew how to handle himself. He hadn't looked, but he'd be suprsied if there wasn't a weapon resting somewhere within easy reach.

🦄 Machiavellian Masquerade - Chapter 1

Justice Cobalt

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Location: Unknown
Skills: Perception
Hit Points: 6
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The girl nodded, and for the first time, stepped out from behind the pillar fully. At the very least, she seemed just as keen to escape as Cobalt was, so he was hardly going to get in her way. As she crossed the room towards the corner, Cobalt frowned slightly. He'd half-opened his mouth to suggest that they might try and leave the room by a route that didn't involve walking through a seemingly solid wall when his doubt was abruptly cut short. The words died on his lips as he watched the girl push open the door that seemed to appear from nowhere. Another hidden door? Cobalt made a mental note, managing a smile of thanks towards the girl before he stepped through the doorway after her.

The corridor that led away before him seemed to be carved from the rock, just as the chapel had been, but the scent of earth seemed to be slightly less overpowering. He found himself instinctively staying close to the girl as she walked. She seemed to know where she was going, and considering Cobalt didn't have the slightest idea of where he was, he didn't want to risk losing her in the half-light. As he walked, he began routinely checking himself over. Everything seemed to be intact, but that only made Cobalt more curious. Why was he presumably drugged and then dragged to god knows where and simply left there? Hopefully wherever the girl was leading him held some clues at least. At this point, he'd settle for some fresh air.

🦄 Soulless Regency - Merged With T.S.

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William Fraser

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Location: Kirkpatrick House
Skills: Perception

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William had been half-expecting the answer, even before it came. He knew of Gretna Green well enough, the place was famous as a site for love struck English couples to wed, away from disapproving parents. Although the marriage between Rutherford and Millicent seemed to be for more nefarious reasons, he wasn't surprised that it was there that Rutherford intended for it to take place. Even so, he wasn't reassured by the carriage driver confirming his suspicions. One thing that the other man said did pique William's interest though. Trouble that could be following? Was there those who were against the marriage? Who would go so far as to pursue the engaged couple?

A question from the carriage driver tore William's attention back to the present, and he quickly regained his composure, smiling slightly as he replied.

"I haven't yet decided, but I may take you up on that offer. I'll pay of course."

As he spoke, William found himself properly looking at the man for the first time. He looked old, and worn out, and William didn't blame him. He hardly envied the life of a carriage driver, travelling from town to town, honouring whatever fare you could find. Both men were travelers, but William, William was free. He didn't see any scars on the man, but he didn't doubt that he had them. The world was hard and cruel, unless you were rich enough to lounge around in grand country houses all your life, you would have scars, one way or another. Only a moment had passed, and William glanced back towards the house before continuing.

"Certainly a strange thing, that Ryne attack. Can't be a common sight around these parts, not these days at least."

🦄 Machiavellian Masquerade - Chapter 1

Justice Cobalt

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Location: Unknown
Skills: Constitution
Hit Points: 6
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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."

🦄 Soulless Regency - Merged With T.S.

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William Fraser

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Location: Kirkpatrick House
Skills: Country Knowledge (Scotland)

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William had found a kindred spirit at least. Although at times, he almost wished that the Lords did take no notice in him, rather than having to suffer through the ineptitude and slime of Egerton, and the foreboding darkness of Rutherford. When it came down to it, William and the carriage driver were cut from the same cloth. No title, and little wealth, merely using what talents they had to try and make their way in the world. As the driver moved across to tend to the horses, William followed.

The musician found himself wondering how his life could have been different. If his mother had survived, then William's childhood would have been rubbing shoulders with the wealthy, rather than roaming the wild roads and training in the frozen north. With his grandfather holding a title, he could have mingled with gentry not as an outsider, but as one of them. He wouldn't be looked down upon, only valued for his talents, and he wouldn't have to be a lonely traveler. He could be married by now, to the daughter of a wealthy merchant, or perhaps even of some member of the peerage. Probably even have children of his own...

William shook himself out of his daydream. There was no point living in 'what could have been', life was what it was. Turning back to the driver in time to catch his last remark, William nodded sagely in agreement.

"You're right again. They only care about what we can do for them. But as long as they keep paying, I don't mind too much!"

Pausing, William glanced back at the track that led away from the house, before turning back to the driver.

"Do you think we'll run into any trouble on the road between here and Gretna Green?"