++ Lady Borella's Soiree ++

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[Bazin]

The Lady laughed.  Removed?  This fool is hilarious.  Look at the room, it is fully engaged in his madness.

You have impressed me, offworlder.  We should meet after this party is over.

[InnsmouthMedic]

Sham let his antics decrescendo until the party swept it's revelers focus elsewhere.  Once attention on him had dissolved, he once again let the crowd absorb him and help him to be 'unremarkable', albeit with much more difficulty, he was sure.  His mental lapse shook him to the core.  He hadn't needed a drink that badly since... well since times long past.  Beads of sweat lined his brow and ringed the armpits of his svelt 'costume'.  He leaned near a pillar that was close to refreshments and helped himself to bits of food, all of which incurred an expense large enough to feed families back on Omnicron for years.  Despite the decadent range of flavors, he could not find himself enjoying them.  The something that was gnawing at his gut before arriving turned into a razor-toothed canid and felt as if it had disemboweled him earlier.  He knew that the booze had a part in that, but the madness that pushed him to the edge and subsequently caused his cavorting was something that unnerved him to the point of self-abuse.  The 'revelation' of the God-Emperor was something that he hadn't expected, and waved it off as hallucination, what with his personal (almost heretical) beliefs he seriously doubted that the "God-Emperor" would take a moment to bless him.  But there was that little voice in the back of his mind wistfully saying, "What if...?"  He was cursing himself under his breath while he scanned the crowd - and then his eyes rested on the man with the luminescent necklace.  Something about it caused his toes to curl and clench in his shoes.  The hair raised a bit on the back of his beck as he stared at it.  Catching himself, he glanced away to look elsewhere in the crowd.  Too much staring and he might actually draw attention to himself.  He moved positions again, weaving in and out with the ebb and flow of the crowd.  It was beginning to feel a bit claustrophobic, even by Sham's standards.  Perhaps some air would help, he thought.  Eventually making his way to where they entered, he stepped out into the refreshing night air...

[KnightDisciple]

Intios simply sighed and shook his head.

'Really, why can't I just shoot this lunatic?' he thought exasperatedly to himself.

[Jamie]

You have impressed me, offworlder.  We should meet after this party is over.[/color]

Xanthis smiled inwardly to himself, this had been a most successful outing after the debacle of the Barking Saint.  "Of course Lady Borella, I will always be available to meet with you.  But I must beg my leave at this time.  I really should mingle a little more and I do not want to take up too much of your time right now."  Xanthis politely excused himself from the conversation, he had what he wanted from this meeting anyways, an invitation for later. 

Xanthis began to turn away from the Lady Borella to go and check on Sham, both to see if he was allright/needed a beating as well as to congratulate him on his little display.

[ClockworkHorror]

When Xanthis turned it was to find Zuriel standing in front of him. Now, of course - as before the Tech-Priest was standing just behind the disguised Cleric.

Those emerald eyes were intent, and the Machine-Man leaned in to whisper.
His vox unit at a whispered level.

"I fear I require some direction, sire. I am at a loss as to where to best implement my particular brand of expertise."

[Bazin]

The party milled around the Acolytes.  Sham's exit had returned the room to the dull roar that had subsided during his 'act'.

Behind Xanthis, his entourage could hear Lady Borella cracking up at the scene they had just witnessed.  A positive impression was indeed made on the host of the party.

The night air was sweet, due to the pots of incense burning near the entrance of the grand hall where the party was held.  The sound of the sea was near.  Sham was amazed at how clean the air felt as it flowed through his nostrils, mouth and lungs.  Forge worlds did not have air like this.

[InnsmouthMedic]

Since his arrival, Sham had been struck by the difference in this world from his and the few others he had been on.  It seemed much cleaner, orderly and less 'tainted'.  He learned rapidly and early in his 'career' that looks were always deceiving and the core was usually rotten.  That said, he found the current mix of fresh air and the saltiness of the sea wafting through his nostrils refreshing.  He took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves but the incense aroma brought his thoughts back to the soiree he had just left.  He still felt unhinged, off-kilter - perhaps even 'dirty' if such a concept was intelligible to him.  The blast of 'awareness' that assailed his senses still left a nagging, weighted feel at the base of his neck and between his brow.  His heart still raced and he found himself becoming agitated once again.  He shrugged his shoulders, took a few quick steps in place and rocked his head from side to side - much like a pugilist would prior to entering a fight.  He shrugged off the introspection and took a closer look around his surroundings.  Hearing the dull roar of the party behind him, he scanned the entrance area of the grand hall.  He looked for other avenues of interest, other entrances - perhaps ones that appeared guarded or obviously enforced. 

"I probably should stick with these nobs," he said to himself, "but where's the fun in that?  Besides, I'll make myself more useful and less of an ass this way."  He chuckled to himself as he causually strode off in a random direction.

[Jamie]

"I fear I require some direction, sire. I am at a loss as to where to best implement my particular brand of expertise."

"No worries my friend.  There may not be much you can do at this time besides be seen and talk to the occasional person of interest." Xanthis whispered back to Zuriel.  He felt bad for the Tech-Priest, Zuriel was completely out of his element.  But there was nothing to do about it but carry on.  Xanthis noticed Sham had not made a reappearance yet, so he chose to continue sipping on his drink and carry on polite conversation with others as he continued to move throughout the party.  He had accomplished his main objective and that made him feel much better about their prospects.

[Baron]

Brax stood close to Xanthis playing his role. He was very aware of his surroundings, of the scum?s twitching as drinks passed to-and-fro within his grasp and his eventual break into foolish antics and speech, of Lady Bordella and her laugh that was curiously not as light and superficial as it should be, of the convenient segway Sham provided Xanthis step into conversation with the hostess and of poor Zuriel who desperately needed?.

?Zuriel, shall we make that drink we spoke of in the mid-hive? What were we calling it?... Zurielain Serotonin Charade? But alas, it will be rather hard to come across a dash of norepinephrine to polish it off?, thinking something, anything Zuriel took a sip on would help facilitate his forays into the social sphere.

Abraxis was also keenly aware Sham?s absence and his ability to meld and disappear into the evening of drinks, glowing gossamer evening attire and social amusement.

[Bazin]

The Acolytes mingled for approximately an hour longer, then additional trays of foodstuffs are brought through the doors of the hall, filling the air with the smell of cooked meat.

Additionally, trays of small glasses are brought around, offered to everyone.  The server notes the drink is Complements of the Hostess.  As the drinks are passed out, Lady Bordella approaches a small platform raised enough for her to look upon the whole room.

The Acolytes notice that most of the guests are accepting the drink, and those that are not tended to be from an older generation.


Sham meandered through the streets of the upper hive with no apparent direction.  He walked for an hour, meeting a few individuals of the nobility as well as some of the local law enforcement.  He had no trouble blathering on to the point that the police felt he was no threat to anyone but himself.

[InnsmouthMedic]

Seeing that there appeared to be nothing out of line in the near vicinity, Sham meandered back via the route he came.  Knowing full well the possibility that he could have missed being trailed, he kept an extra careful eye out for any traps that may be laid for his return.  A dark alley here, a shadowed overhang there, they were all spots he would have used easily for a arm around the neck and a knife under the right flank, through the liver and into the lungs.  Sometimes, a quick stab between the cervical vertebrae - between the third and fourth disc, was sufficient to paralyze the breathing center of the victim thus affording a quiet subdue.  He sighed to himself as he recalled many of his early days, feeling the alcohol start to wear off, he could feel the cool sweat on his brow in the evening salty air.  He suddenly felt that 'tingle' at the nape of his neck and it subsequently flashed down his spine.  He quickened his pace back towards the soiree but kept the appearance of a slightly tipsy reveler.  He didn't want to appear any more conspicuous than the other night wanderers.  As he neared Lady Borella's, he could smell the food wafting from the hall.  It appears he was arriving just on time...

[KnightDisciple]

The Acolytes mingled for approximately an hour longer, then additional trays of foodstuffs are brought through the doors of the hall, filling the air with the smell of cooked meat.

Additionally, trays of small glasses are brought around, offered to everyone.  The server notes the drink is Complements of the Hostess.  As the drinks are passed out, Lady Bordella approaches a small platform raised enough for her to look upon the whole room.

The Acolytes notice that most of the guests are accepting the drink, and those that are not tended to be from an older generation.

Intios had handed his previous drink to a server a while back, merely stating he'd like to give himself room to try something else.

He accepted a glass of the new drink, but did not partake of it just yet.

Instead, he watched the Lady with curiosity, while also scanning the room for his companions.

[Jamie]

Additionally, trays of small glasses are brought around, offered to everyone.  The server notes the drink is Complements of the Hostess.  As the drinks are passed out, Lady Bordella approaches a small platform raised enough for her to look upon the whole room.

The Acolytes notice that most of the guests are accepting the drink, and those that are not tended to be from an older generation.

Xanthis accepted the offered drink as Lady Borella ascended the platform.  He was a little cautious of what was in the drink based on his knowledge of his hostess and her connections, but was paying close attention nonetheless.  Moving to a better vantage point, Xanthis tried to pay as much attention to the party hostess as well as the rest of the guests, watching for anything that may be slightly out of the ordinary.

[Baron]

Abraxus plays his role as the guarder of the body Xanthis, holding the demeanor that one would not approach to offer a drink. Brax stays close to the rear of Xanthis, always observing for any threats... apart from the drink.

[Bazin]

Lady Borella raised her glass, the liquid matching that of the glasses held by anyone who accepted the drink.  Enjoy yourselves, for delight is pleasing the Emperor!

The room cheered loudly.  Abraxus was the only Acolyte that noted the commotion near the rear of the room as a pale individual darted out of the room.

This same individual literally ran into Sham as he hurried to exit the party.  It's alive...alive!!!  The individual repeated the word alive several times, babbling like an insane person.

Zuriel did not accept one of the drinks, as it was not logical for him to do so.  He stood close to Xanthis, with Brax behind both of them.  Initos quickly spotted his companions, watching them to take some cues.

[Baron]

Hastily and with as much agility as possible not to draw attention, Brax quickly darted to area of commotion with hopes of pursuing the exiting individual.

[InnsmouthMedic]

As usual, Sham's timing was impeccable.  He heard the commotion and promptly headed toward the hubbub, wondering if someone else was trying to out-do his earlier performance.  The person nearly bowled Sham over, babbling and shrieking the phrase, 'It's allive..alive!" insanely.  Sham stepped aside and curiously watched the individual exit the party.  He looked back toward the origin of the person's mad dash, hoping to see just what exactly, was alive.  'Maybe the party finally picked up', he thought to himself.  He quickly scanned the crowd, trying to detect at least one of his companions.  He was hoping to spot Brax as he was the only one he'd put any trust into at the moment.

Actions:

Awareness (just what the hell is going on)
Search (to find Brax)

[Jamie]

Xanthis was paying too much attention to the crowd around him as well as the Lady Borella to notice Brax slip away.  He hesitated a moment or two to see if there were any immediate effects from the drink before deciding to finish his at the end of the toast.  Xanthis was confident that with Zuriel and Brax at his side they would take care of him should something happen.

[Bazin]

Brax moved through the crowd, moving towards the entrance of the grand hall.  He could not push through the crowd fast enough to find the individual who caught his eye.  Sham, however, did come into view.

Sham quickly evaluated the situation and determined that a toast had just taken place, given the amount of empty glasses he saw, and the Lady at the head of the room.

Xanthis took a sip of the drink.  He could tell the drink was potent.  The drink was inciting him to give into his primal urges.


OOC:

Xanthis Easy Toughness = d100 = 36+30 = 66 (vs. 63) Failure!
- Addicted to Farcosia
- Fel +10
- WP -20
- Int -5

ALTERNATIVE: Fate Point Spent: Test Passed, no effects from drinking.

Player's Choice.

[InnsmouthMedic]

His interest piqued, Sham slid to the side of the entrance.  He quickly found a less visible point to view the spectacle before him.  He sensed a profound change in the crowd's overall demeanor, which at the moment appeared more somber than the reveling throng earlier.  He tried to meld into the ridiculously high thread-count curtained entrance.  He casually noted the gold-lead design on the wall-paper and made a mental noted of seeing how removable it was at a later and more convenient time.  Sliding against the wall, he navigated to a vantage point that allowed him to take in the crowd's further activities with minimal visibility to himself.  He felt that tell-tale tickle and twinge in the bottom of his stomach nearly reaching his groin - either he had to urinate or something interesting was about to happen...