House of Masks 001c

[2/19/2013 11:35:26 PM] Snow: You head into the hallway! Where to? [2/19/2013 11:36:26 PM] Penelope: I head to where this cook may be, a harmless apparition sounds like an excellent acquaintance to be made. [2/19/2013 11:37:17 PM] Snow: You head back to the kitchen, in that case! It's a nice kitchen, with a very large pantry, all stocked up, and quite a few interesting kitchen gadgets only rich people can afford, largely magically-powered. [2/19/2013 11:37:28 PM] Snow: There doesn't *seem* to be any evidence of the supernatural. [2/19/2013 11:37:31 PM] Snow: Notice check! [2/19/2013 11:39:04 PM] Penelope: Penelope 's eyes begin to flit amongst the various contraptions and concoctions, not quite sure what their uses may be. [2/19/2013 11:40:20 PM] Snow: Just out of your field of vision you notice one of the spoons on the wall turn itself over to face in the correct direction. [2/19/2013 11:41:04 PM] Penelope: ((Penelope isn't aware that apparitions can be invisible)) [2/19/2013 11:41:20 PM] Snow: You also hear something that sounds like someone humming. [2/19/2013 11:42:01 PM] Penelope: Penelope bellows out,"A spoon that turns and hums?? What manner of being do I address??" [2/19/2013 11:42:32 PM] Snow: There's a bit of a nervous squeak. [2/19/2013 11:42:47 PM] Snow: Then a woman's voice. "I'm not a spoon!" [2/19/2013 11:43:54 PM] Penelope: Penelope becomes aware of the volume of her voice, and lowers it,"Then what are you, possible Acquaintance?" [2/19/2013 11:44:21 PM] Snow: Voice: Just a cook, ma'am. Just a cook. [2/19/2013 11:44:49 PM] Penelope: "May I look at you?" [2/19/2013 11:45:21 PM] Penelope: ((her questions may seem terse and standoffish, at times)) [2/19/2013 11:46:02 PM] Snow: Voice: Oh, I can't, mum. It's daylight. [2/19/2013 11:47:51 PM] Penelope: "Are you what my master calls 'hungover'?  He does not like it when I open the curtains in the morning after being out late into the evening prior." [2/19/2013 11:48:23 PM] Snow: Voice: I can't manifest during the day, ma'am. I would if I could, but... [2/19/2013 11:48:43 PM] Penelope: "How may I be of assistance?" [2/19/2013 11:49:43 PM] Penelope: ((sense motive to see if cook is implying an action to be taken)) [2/19/2013 11:49:47 PM] Snow: Voice: ... but I'm supposed to assist *you*, ma'am. [2/19/2013 11:51:05 PM] Penelope: "I've no need of cooking.  Perhaps there is something I can offer?" [2/19/2013 11:51:15 PM] Snow: Nope, she's not. She's also a little bit nervous, apparently. [2/19/2013 11:52:33 PM] Penelope: "Has my volume frightened you?  I lack 'nuance', as my master puts it." [2/19/2013 11:53:37 PM] Snow: Voice: Oh, I'm easily startled! It's all right, ma'am. [2/19/2013 11:54:49 PM] Penelope: "Surely a room as large as this has need of many workers.  Have you help in this area? [2/19/2013 11:56:09 PM] Snow: Voice: No one's been here for ages... no cooking, no eating. It's far too quiet, I miss the children. [2/19/2013 11:56:42 PM] Penelope: "Are these children incapable of manifesting? Is that why you miss them?" [2/19/2013 11:57:01 PM] Snow: Voice: Oh, no, ma'am, they were *alive*. Just grew up and moved out. [2/19/2013 11:58:07 PM] Penelope: "Who did these children belong to? Relations of Benefactor Faustina? [2/19/2013 11:58:27 PM] Snow: Voice: And she herself. Oh, she was a dear little girl. [2/19/2013 11:59:02 PM] Penelope: ((sense motive, is she implying she somehow changed over the years))

Aethon wanders into the kitchen. Penelope appears to be... talking to a spoon. [2/19/2013 11:59:47 PM] Aethon: Aethon smacks Penelope's back. [2/19/2013 11:59:58 PM] Aethon: "What are you up to, friend?" [12:00:48 AM] Penelope: "Friend Aethon, I am now speaking with possible Acquaitance.... she has not offered her name.  Should I offer name before?  Would this be courteous?" [12:01:14 AM] Aethon: "Silly Penelope..." Aethon shakes his head. [12:01:24 AM] Aethon: "Of course you need to introduce yourself first!" [12:01:52 AM] Penelope: "I shall keep this in mind.  Your lessons are sure to enrich me, Friend Aethon." [12:02:10 AM] Aethon: "Count on it!" Aethon gives her a thumbs up. [12:02:36 AM] Snow: A woman's voice comes out of thin air, near the spoon. "I'm Fran, ma'am. Afternoon, sir." [12:02:43 AM] Penelope: Penelope mimics the gesture, somehow showing the exact same enthusiasm. [12:03:11 AM] Aethon: Aethon is careful not to show his chagrin. [12:03:43 AM] Aethon: "How do you do, Fran? I am Aethon, a brother of the Holy Order of Jaer." Aethon bows. [12:04:50 AM] Penelope: Penelope introduces herself to Fran,"My name is Penelope.  Shall you be my Acquaintance?" [12:04:53 AM] Snow: Fran: Lovely to meet you, sir. I'm just a cook. [12:05:08 AM] Snow: Fran: ... I'm just a servant, ma'am. [12:06:15 AM] Penelope: "Are you not allowed more than one designation?" The notion sounds a bit tremulous, perhaps emulating sorrow or pity. [12:06:52 AM] Snow: Fran hesitates. "... not sure what you mean, ma'am." [12:07:04 AM] Aethon: Aethon pats Penelope's shoulder, then clears his throat. [12:07:16 AM] Aethon: "Tell me, Fran, what do you know about this house?" [12:07:33 AM] Penelope: ((brb)) [12:08:15 AM] Snow: Fran: Not much, sir. Same's any cook would. Contents of all the pantries--this one's the only one worth lookin' in, mind you--all the coldboxes, dishes an' serving vessels an' such. [12:09:10 AM] Aethon: Aethon shakes his head. [12:09:37 AM] Aethon: "I am here to do this house a service, Fran, but to do so, I believe I need to know more about it's past." [12:09:55 AM] Aethon: Roll diplomacy? [12:10:15 AM] Penelope: "Acquaintance Fran was recalling about Benefactor Faustina's childhood." [12:10:27 AM] Aethon: "Indeed? I would hear of it." [12:10:33 AM] Snow: Sure! [12:11:26 AM] Snow: Fran: She was a dear little girl, very kind to her brothers. She and Fabrizio were thick as thieves, even with the age difference between 'em, bless their hearts. [12:13:23 AM] Penelope: "Who is Fabrizio, might I ask? The eldest brother?" [12:13:50 AM] Aethon: "And just where is he now, exactly?" [12:14:11 AM] Snow: Fran: Always getting into trouble. Yes. Breezie, we called him. I suppose he's quite grown-up now. So gawky, he was, all arms and legs. Dear little creature, I hope he grew into those ears. [12:15:18 AM] Penelope: Penelope seems perplexed by Fran's last statement. [12:16:00 AM] Snow: Fran: As to where he is now... I don't know. All the little ones left long ago, and I can't see out of the house, you know. [12:16:38 AM] Aethon: "Tell me, Fran, about the unwelcome infestation in this house. What do you know of it?" [12:17:07 AM] Snow: Fran: ... they wouldn't like it if I said, master. [12:17:08 AM] Penelope: ((good night guys, I had a great time!)) [12:17:28 AM] Snow: ((G'night!)) [12:17:36 AM] Aethon: Good night [12:17:37 AM] Snow: Penelope presumably heads off to exploooooore! [12:18:00 AM] Aethon: "Penelope, find a place for us to rest." [12:18:08 AM] Aethon: "I'll follow shortly." [12:18:25 AM] Penelope: "I shall do as you ask, Friend Aethon." [12:18:44 AM] Penelope: Penelope begins to stride off at a surprising speed. [12:19:16 AM] Aethon: "Now Fran, I need you to listen to me. I am a holy knight, beholden to the gods to mete out their justice upon this earth. I will visit upon iniquity with the hand of righteousness, and strike evil at its heart." [12:19:21 AM] Aethon: Roll Diplomacy again? [12:19:29 AM] Snow: Sure! [12:19:33 AM] Aethon: "I need you to tell me what I need to know." [12:20:18 AM] Aethon: "What you confess to me will stay only between you and me." [12:21:47 AM] Snow: Fran hesitates again. "Didn't used to be like this, master, and that's the truth. Somethin' came in, and after the disappearance all the living just left the house." [12:22:07 AM] Aethon: "I need to know more, Fran." [12:22:35 AM] Aethon: Tell me when I should roll diplo again! I'm not sure when I have to [12:23:00 AM] Snow: You're good. [12:23:41 AM] Snow: Fran: ... it was back when Faustina and Breezie were little. Somethin' terrible happened, sir, and they packed up everything and left. [12:23:56 AM] Aethon: "Lady Faustina as well?" [12:24:23 AM] Snow: Fran: All the little ones. Cesare and Agustino too. [12:24:46 AM] Aethon: "What happened?" [12:25:12 AM] Snow: Fran: ... she... she disappeared, master. In the West Wing. [12:25:22 AM] Aethon: "She?" [12:26:22 AM] Snow: Fran, hastily: I shouldn't've said it, sir, I shouldn't've said it. Oh, gods forgive me, now I've done it. [12:26:45 AM] Aethon: "I am a lay brother, Fran, confess and find absolution." [12:28:53 AM] Snow: Fran: Oh, sir, you don't know he trouble I'll be in... [12:28:59 AM] Snow: Fran: I've got to go. [12:29:25 AM] Aethon: Roll Diplomacy to make her stay? [12:29:33 AM] Snow: Doesn't work that way, really, unfortunately. [12:29:39 AM] Snow: She's very frightened. [12:29:40 AM] Aethon: Dang :\ [12:29:47 AM] Aethon: Roll diplomacy to assuage her fears? [12:29:48 AM] Aethon: heh [12:30:36 AM] Snow: Fran: Miss Alessia, sir. She disappeared. ... oh no, I've said too much, oh no... [12:31:08 AM] Aethon: "In this life or the next, I will do what it takes to bring justice to this place." [12:31:17 AM] Aethon: "I swear this upon my blade, as a champion of Jaer." [12:31:21 AM] Snow: Fran: Bless you, sir! Goodbye! [12:31:29 AM] Snow: She's gone. [12:31:37 AM] Snow: You don't know how you can tell, but she's not in the kitchen anymore. [12:31:51 AM] Aethon: Aethon draws his sword, stabs it into the ground, and kneels. [12:31:54 AM] Snow: You *can* hear Karid and Caspar in the common room, though. [12:32:06 AM] Snow: The ground does resist being stabbed. [12:32:24 AM] Aethon: Aethon picks up his blade, and instead kneels with it, raised up on his hands in supplication. [12:32:36 AM] Snow: (It's kind of a hard tile.) [12:32:52 AM] Aethon: He's a loose cannon and an idiot at times [12:33:23 AM] Snow: (Hee. I like the character a lot.) [12:33:35 AM] Aethon: Aethon prays. "Mighty Jaer, deal with me ever so harshly, if I do not bring your holy judgement upon this place." [12:33:46 AM] Aethon: Aethon stands and heads for the common room. Jordan Steven