Romero

🦄 Soulless Regency - Merged With T.S.

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William Fraser

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Location: Gretna Green
Skills: N/A

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The unusual group made it to Gretna Green, but William quickly realised that that did not mean safety. The place was in chaos, no doubt caused by the wake destruction that the horses had left behind them. William squared his jaw slightly as he look at the chaos. He had liked the driver, the two forming almost a camaraderie, but no-one could have survived the scene before him. He realised with a heavy heart that he didn't even know the man's name. Beneath his breath, William uttered a prayer to the Old Gods. He didn't know what the man had believed, but he hoped that it was enough.

The Duchess had clearly decided it was wise to take the long way into town, and the rest of the group followed after her. Rutherford was lagging behind, but William was in no mood for conversation, and kept his distance from the other man, walking a few paces behind Veta and Millicent, still arm in arm with each other. As they made their way towards the center of town, they found themselves going against the tide, the townspeople heading out and way from whatever chaos had blown in. William saw the two men on horses just as the Duchess did, the mysterious woman calling out to the strangers and waving towards them, joy and relief evident in her voice. Whoever the two men were, she clearly knew them, but William still found himself instinctively gripping the handle of his trusty dirk.

Rutherford wasn't trying to hide his annoyance as he finally caught up with them, but William was almost enjoying himself. The day only continued to get stranger, and the flamboyant and extravagant Russian that leapt onto his saddle when he saw the Duchess was no exception. The other mounted man, also Russian if his thick accent was anything to go by, was more conservatively dressed, but he was clearly just as excited to see the Duchess, although his joy seemed to dip slightly. William couldn't be sure why, or even confirm that he had seen any change in expression, but he knew what he thought he had seen. Something held William back from introducing himself to these newcomers. He had the feeling he had found himself in the middle of something far greater than himself, and for now, he would wait to see where this journey took him.

🦄 Machiavellian Masquerade - Chapter 1

Justice Cobalt

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Location: Shadowell Manor: State Dining Room
Skills: N/A
Hit Points: 6
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Cobalt half-glanced over towards the short figure of the woman that had intrigued him earlier. He'd wanted to talk to her then, but the imposing figure that had been watching over her had ended that idea then. Maybe in the shock and confusion following the Lord's death wasn't the ideal setting either. Before Cobalt could make a decision, it was made for him, another guest moving over to talk to the woman. Another time then perhaps, Cobalt did still want to learn more about the guest that had apparently shot Swamp. He was sure they would get along swimmingly...

He glanced around the room and noticed that he had been somewhat stranded in the middle. The good doctor had taken to the task of inspecting the Lord's body with ease, the Chanteuse hovering around him like a concerned mother hen. Titian seemed to be amusing himself with the woman that had managed to wound herself with a dinner knife, apparently keen to draw attention to the scar that Cobalt had noticed earlier. If it was an attempt to flirt by the big man, it was a strange one, and judging by the response from the woman, a misguided one. Beyond those two groups, the other guests included Walnut and her new companion who appeared to be in conversation, the reluctantly unmasked woman, who seemed content with issuing vague and foreboding warnings, and the handsome man, who seemed at a loss at what to do. Cobalt frowned slightly. That made two of them.

He needed something to do, if only to keep his mind sharp. One glance at the four musicians put him off that idea, he wasn't at such a loss that he wanted to tolerate the surrealism of four men speaking as one. Not yet anyway. The servants hardly seemed in the mood for conversation, and as he glanced across at Analia, he saw that she wasn't either. Besides, his time with the young lady had been fleeting, and it was far from his place to assume any kinship existed between the two. Even if he had wanted to attempt to talk to the girl, again, a decision was made for him.

The guards that had been summoned arrived into the room finally, led by an older woman. Lady Oriold if Jasper's greeting was anything to go by, although the name meant nothing to Cobalt. She seemed only half-there, letting Jasper issue orders, her own voice quiet. She moved to offer some comfort to Analia, and her words suggested that the power in the house had already shifted. Whoever this dowager was, they were all at her mercy now.

🦄 Soulless Regency - Merged With T.S.

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William Fraser

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Location: Road to Gretna Green From The Kirkpatricks
Skills: Perception

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William was glad that his comment hadn't sparked any argument. Maybe it was the shock from the freak wind, but Rutherford seemed almost obedient. He grimaced and he grumbled, but he held his tongue, walking down the road and nursing the wound on his head. Maybe it had knocked some manners into him. Whatever connection the Duchess had with Millicent, she seemed keen to preserve it, taking the other woman's arm as she led the group down the road. Clearly some purpose drove the Duchess, and for now, that purpose seemed to be protecting Millicent.

Hesitating slightly, William smiled slightly as he nodded at the Duchess' thanks. He tried to stop himself from watching her as she walked away, busying himself with collecting his things from the carriage. He knew next to nothing about the Duchess, but he knew a dangerous woman when he saw one. Who she was dangerous for, William didn't know yet. But she clearly wielded some power if she could silence Rutherford, and she could clearly use her sword. Not only that, but there was another detail that intrigued William. For a woman that held the title of Grand Duchess, her hands were calloused and worn like a common worker. Whatever she was, she was far from a pampered noble. For now, William resolved to play the part of the courteous gentleman, and any passions that the sight of the beautiful Duchess might stoke, would be quickly dampened.

Belongings gathered, William set off down the road after the others. He found himself falling into step, taking up the position of an impromptu rearguard. Something had caused that freak wind, and until they were safely indoors, then it could come back at anytime. Almost instinctively, he rested a hand on the hilt of his dirk. The blade at his hip might not do anything to the weather, or whatever creature had caused it, but he wasn't planning on going down without trying. For now though, their surroundings were still, but William didn't allow himself to relax. He had lived a good life, and he didn't intend on stopping any time soon.

🦄 Machiavellian Masquerade - Chapter 1

Justice Cobalt

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Location: Shadowell Manor: State Dining Room
Skills: Perception
Hit Points: 6
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Cobalt's shoulders slumped slightly as he glanced around the room. Several of the other guests had joined him in leaping to their feet, but if he had been expecting a rush of activity, then he would be a little disappointed. The Lord of the Manor was dead, but his servants, or rather former servants, seemed to be simply carrying on with their business. One of the guests seemed suitably shocked, but considering it was the same guest that had managed to stab herself with a dinner knife, Cobalt wasn't sure he should trust her judgement.

Titian seemed to be barely phased by the most recent death of the evening, and the good doctor made sure to take the opportunity to laud his apparent deductions over Cobalt once again, seemingly in no great rush to tend to the Lord. The four musicians from earlier simply continued to eat their dinner, and Cobalt was sure that they would have even been doing that in sync if he could bring himself to watch them. Had the world gone mad?

The door opened again, and Cobalt was already tensed, but once again it wasn't a killer who entered the room. Or if it was, she was very well disguised. The woman's reaction to the sight of her employer's corpse was almost comically understated, and she proceeded to babble away as she tended to the self-injured guest. Cobalt pinched the bridge of his nose lightly, trying to find some sort of sense among the insanity.

His jumping to his feet seemed fairly unnecessary now, but he was on his feet, and he would remain that way for now. The doctor would apparently be having a busy night, if the corpses continued to pile up. Somewhat a waste of his talents if his patients that Cobalt knew of had already been dead by the time of the inspection.

🦄 Soulless Regency - Merged With T.S.

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William Fraser

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Location: Road to Gretna Green From The Kirkpatricks
Skills: Intelligence

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William did what he could to brush himself down, not ignoring the fact that the Duchess had her hand resting on the hilt of her sword. He managed a weak smile at her question, glad that they both seemed to at least be in one piece, considering what had just happened. Scotland might have some wild weather, but whatever had just hit them, it seemed like more than just a freak storm.

"Not in my experience, m'lady. There's no weather like that around here."

He didn't have long to ponder the force of nature, Rutherford making his voice heard as he stumbled out of the carriage, looking suitably disheveled from the battering he had likely taken inside the carriage. The blow he looked to have taken to the side of his certainly hadn't cooled his temperament. If anything, it seemed to have only made it worse. A temperament that quickly turned on the Duchess.

From what he could tell, the Duchess wasn't to blame for what had just happened to them. Not directly at least. William liked to think that he was a good judge of character, and the look of shock on the face of the Duchess as it rushed towards him had seemed genuine. William hadn't encountered anything, or anyone, that could control the weather like that, but he knew it wasn't natural. And he knew that whatever had caused it could come back.

"Forgive me for speaking out of turn, my lord, m'lady, but this carriage isn't going anywhere, and we still have ground to cover before we reach Gretna Green. Unless we can find a new form of transport, might I suggest we start walking?"

🦄 Machiavellian Masquerade - Chapter 1

Justice Cobalt

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Location: Shadowell Manor: State Dining Room
Skills: N/A
Hit Points: 6
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Just as he was starting to admire the man, Cobalt could only sit and watch as the Lord all but keeled over, falling face first into his dinner. Cobalt instinctively rose to his feet, pushing his own plate away from him, in case the man had been poisoned by the same food that sat before him. A surreal silence seemed to have fallen over the room for an instant, the Lord dead, the pale girl crying out, and Jasper attempting to grasp what had just happened. And then the doors of the Dining Room swung open.

Cobalt turned sharply, half-expecting trained killers to pour into the room. But instead, he was greeted by the sight of another servant, Amaranthine, and the petite woman he had spotted earlier. And the good Doctor of course, so perhaps Cobalt was half-right about the killers, even if he had changed his clothes. Now that there was action happening before him, Cobalt could feel his thoughts sharpening, at last. Jasper had barked his own orders, but Cobalt added his own voice, looking towards Swamp as he spoke.

"I believe your expertise would be most welcome, doctor."

The pale girl's voice sounded again, little more than a whimper now, and Cobalt turned in time to see her break way, running towards one of the windows. Perhaps she knew something the others didn't, or perhaps she was simply trying to get away from her father's corpse. Either way, Cobalt found himself taking a step away from the table, so that he wouldn't find himself tangled in his chair if he needed to make any sudden movements. He subconsciously squared his stance slightly. People were starting to drop like flies around here, and Cobalt had no intention of being next.

🦄 Machiavellian Masquerade - Chapter 1

Justice Cobalt

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Location: Shadowell Manor: State Dining Room
Skills: Perception
Hit Points: 6
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A carnival of fools. The other guests continue to bicker, barely veiling their snide remarks about their host. If any one of them was a criminal mastermind, then they were very good at hiding it. And Cobalt was starting to lose his patience. He was on the verge of voicing his own opinions, when the Lord of the Manor spoke again. If there had been any veil over their host's threats before, it had been burned away now. The edge on his voice could almost wound, and even though the venom wasn't directed entirely at Cobalt, he still had to suppress a wince. He called for help for the accidental woman at least, although whether that was to save her or the room's furnishings, Cobalt couldn't be entirely sure.

For now at least, the masked woman had caved, taking off her mask. Although the choice that she had been faced with was hardly one that encouraged disagreement. If her defiant defence of her mask had been an effort to conceal her identity, then the plan had certainly backfired. Not only that, but she had managed to make an enemy of their host, and Cobalt didn't doubt that the eyes of the house would be watching her every move from this point on. If anyone was going to have a nasty accident in the shadows of the manor, Cobalt would almost be willing to put money on the fact that it would be Blush.

Titian seemed to have found his voice again, leaping into action and pulling the injured woman away from the table. The simple action of helping set Cobalt's mind whirring. With Mauve either dead or lost somewhere in the house, the closest thing Cobalt had had to an ally was gone. Who knew what friendships had already sprung up between the other guests. He knew the good doctor was likely still following the Chanteuse around like a puppy, although whether Swamp being shot had affected that relationship, Cobalt couldn't know. But there might be others around the table who had friends. For all Cobalt knew, some of them had been allies before they even arrived at the house. Cobalt glanced around at the faces around the table, and frowned slightly. For now, he'd wait, but the time for waiting quietly was coming to an end.

🦄 Soulless Regency - Merged With T.S.

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William Fraser

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Location: Road to Gretna Green From The Kirkpatricks
Skills: Perception

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William still didn't know if he could trust the strange woman, but she hadn't bitten anyone's head off yet, and she seemed friendly enough. In fact, he figured he could even hear a warmth in her voice as she replied to him. Maybe here he could finally find a woman that wasn't engaged or Irish! If nothing else, she might hold some answers, things were quickly becoming complicated after all. He had half turned, realising he didn't know for certain if they even had any water on the carriage, when the world exploded.

Wind, the noise of it like some unholy howl, hit the carriage like a wild animal. The horses screamed and broke away, and in an instant, the driver was gone. Before William could even think to reach out, the other man was wrenched away, the reins dragging him along. The roar in his ears disorientating, William was almost thrown from the carriage himself, clinging on desperately as the carriage ground to an abrupt halt. He had only barely kept his own balance when a shape slammed into him. It didn't take long for him to realise the shape was the Duchess, thrown forwards by the movement of the carriage. William thought they were both destined to be thrown to the ground, but the Duchess proved to be impressively agile, catching both of them before they fell.

And then, just as quickly as it had arrived, the wind was gone. The Duchess, still clinging to William, looked around as she asked for some kind of explanation, but William was in no position to offer one, gasping for air, the breath knocked from him by the collision by the Duchess. For now, he seemed to all be in one piece at least. A quick glancing over of the Duchess suggested she was fine as well. And the shouting emerging from within the carriage itself suggested that Rutherford had also survived the freak storm. William started to detach himself from his entanglement with the Duchess, glancing around, waiting for some kind of explanation.

🦄 Machiavellian Masquerade - Chapter 1

Justice Cobalt

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Location: Shadowell Manor: State Dining Room
Skills: Perception
Hit Points: 6
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If the Lord of the Manor cared about the distress that one of his guests had apparently put themselves in, then he certainly didn't show it, barely glancing over to the woman as she cried out in pain. It was towards the still-masked woman that his attention was turned towards. The chill in the Lord's voice only intensified, making it clear that the illusion of choice was quickly evaporating. They were his guests after all, and if the mood to throw one of them out into the cold struck him, then there were few that could stop him. Cobalt turned to watch the masked woman himself, curious to see if her defiance would last when the suggestion of a threat had become an actual threat.

The other guests attentions seemed torn between the two women, the stabbed and the masked, although the two guests that did speak up both seemed to suggest that the mask issue was one not work focusing on. Cobalt frowned slightly. If the Lord was willing to throw one of his guests from his house just for keeping her mask on, then what was to suggest that he wouldn't be just as trigger-happy with those attempting to argue with him? The Dining Room may well be becoming even more empty before long.

The injured woman seemed to be floundering, and unless the ferret that had just climbed out from her clothing had medical training, then no-one was rushing to help her. Cobalt wasn't about to either. Titian was being uncharacteristically quiet, and Cobalt glanced over at the large man, not surprised to see him leering at the pale girl. Predictable. For now, Cobalt held his tongue, but he didn't let his mind wander. He'd found that if things happened around here, they tended to happen quickly.

🦄 Soulless Regency - Merged With T.S.

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William Fraser

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Location: Road to Gretna Green From The Kirkpatricks
Skills: Intelligence

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Rutherford was clearly not in the mood for conversation, and William left him to it, even if it did mean turning away from the entertaining sight of the Lord struggling to cling on as the carriage rattled along the road. Taking advantage of the brief pause in excitement, William tried to make sense of recent events. Another Soulless, he'd been around long enough to recognise what that creature was, but it was the woman that intrigued him. Rutherford clearly recognized her, and she clearly had something to discuss with Millicent. But judging by her disheveled appearance, and her confusion over where she was, it didn't seem as if she had intended to cross paths with Millicent here, if at all.

As the carriage continued forwards, William racked his brains, but it was no use. If he had ever heard of 'the Circus', then he had long forgotten about it, and with no clues to go on, he had no idea who 'the Duchess' that was currently perched atop the carriage was. It seemed as if their journey to Gretna Green was becoming more eventful with every passing moment, who knows what could be waiting for them around the next corner? This did somewhat complicate William's half-formed plan. While he had been glad to see the group part company with Egerton, loyal to Rutherford but hardly much of a fighter, they had now been joined by a clearly dangerous woman, with her loyalties as yet unknown. If it came to it, would she protect Millicent? Or was her purpose altogether more complicated? With so many pieces in play, the board was becoming crowded.

Deciding it could be a good idea to not forget his manners, and intrigued by the woman sitting a few feet from him, William turned back to face the mysterious 'Duchess', careful to keep his gaze on her face.

"Forgive me for intruding, m'lady, but is there anything you require? Some water perhaps?"