Quest 05 [Player plot, closed]

[newmemorywhodis]

The home and mansion of Lord Willoughby Wigglesworth Pinkerton the Third is ostentatious and sprawling. For those who hail from certain worlds, the architecture bears more than a passing resemblance to a certain British Museum. However, the inside is far more…tacky.

This is the home of a man who has wealth, power, and a certain amount of obsession with appearing worldly and ‘cultured’. The personal belongings of Servants and members of disadvantaged local minorities are mere curiosities and things to be possessed, to be owned, to be controlled.

Lord Willoughby Wigglesworth Pinkerton the Third - known by many who despise him as Lord Pimpersnoodle - is the kind of man who sends his lackeys to steal, to grave-rob, and desecrate. All to build his own collection. This, from the rumours and information from sympathetic staff on the inside, the gathered Corsairs know.

They also know that some of the items the Lord has appropriated are ones rather more…personal in nature. A divine sword. A spell focus. A mysterious gem.

Their mission: to retrieve those items, and make Lord Pimpersnoodle regret having ever taken them in the first place.

Comments

Re: TEAM DISTRACTION [Atom, Ilphyl]

[spacetogrow]

Ilphyl is used to moving fighting as an animal, so this is not impossible. And the sound is unmistakable. They do cautiously pad over to the hole, judging if it would be best to dart in with a paw or try to wriggle back there.

On the other hand, the cat chasing a mouse would probably be a better distraction than them catching the mouse, at first. So into the hole they go, ready to pounce on whatever is back there.

Re: TEAM DISTRACTION [Atom, Ilphyl]

[upupatomway]

Atom watches the infrared signature of Ilphyl moving behind the wall. Looks like they're going to find the creature living back there without issue.

Re: TEAM DISTRACTION [Atom, Ilphyl]

[newmemorywhodis]

Atom's infrared sensors will spot another signature - one smaller, and still at first.

Until suddenly, it bursts into movement.

It's a rat, making a desperate attempt to escape Ilphyl by running past it. But with a quick swipe of a paw, Ilphyl could catch it...

CW: slight description of killing a rat

[spacetogrow]

And Ilphyl does, with cat-like reflexes, then quickly goes in for the killing bite at its neck while it is disoriented. Combat skill, but the normal set of skills a hunting cat might develop.

Rats are dangerous when cornered, and while Ilphyl can take more hits than the average tomcat, they also will lose concentration on the wildshape if they are critically injured AND they can't use their normal means of magical protection, because those are obviously magic. Hence going in quickly.

[upupatomway]

Atom watches Ilphyl's shape lunge and catch the small animal. At the same time, he hears movement from elsewhere in the mansion getting closer. He turns to look around, and infrared reveals the shapes of humans approaching. It doesn't sound like their allies either.

This must be it.

"Ilphyl, we're getting company soon," he says towards the wall.

[newmemorywhodis]

Ilphyl is quick, and the rat doesn't stand a chance. It squeaks, loud...and then falls limp in the cat's jaw.

Something which does not not unnoticed by the new arrivals that have just appeared on the scene.

"Oh, that is utterly disgusting!" cries Lord Willoughby Wigglesworth Pinkerton the Third himself. He is wearing a truly horrendous amount of ruffles, and a hat that he clearly thinks is roguish and mysterious...but in reality looks more like an amateurish costume. He's accompanied by a dour looking man in spectacles, laden down with large journals and notebooks.

"What is that creature doing in here? Carrying around such...such foul remains! It's going to bleed all over my priceless Fifth Age Maikrechtian cabinet!" The Lord exclaims...as he apparently takes just as much offence to the cat as to the rat.

"I believe it's a cat, my lord," says the spectacled-man, with a long-suffering sigh.

[spacetogrow]

Ilphyl meanwhile is quite happy to drop the rat at Atom's feet, and saunter off to find the next one in the walls. Let Atom make the case for why getting rid of the rats is a priority, while Ilphyl intends to cause some extra disruption -- hopefully keeping it to 'Lord Fancypants feels he needs to hover over them to make sure nothing gets bled on or knocked over' rather than 'Lord Fancypants asks them to be removed before the others retrieve the artifacts'.

It is very tempting to do the feline thing and decide this clearly cat-hating man was their new best friend, but Ilphyl does not trust that the man won't get violent to animals (the asshole).

[upupatomway]

Atom turns to address the new arrivals and almost immediately has to remind himself not to stare at Lord Pinkerton's overstated cravat.

"I'm with the rat trapper, Sir," Atom explains, grabbing the brim of his hat and giving a nod like he had seen in movies. Ilphyl drops the rat and he picks up with his gloved hand. "Thanks Professor Fusspot."

He holds up the dead rat for extra effect as he explains, "There's an infestation in the walls. They've bore a hole over here..." He points towards the hole in the wall tucked out of sight, hoping at least one of the men will lean over to examine it and keep their eyes occupied. "Luckily our cat is able to fit inside to hunt them down."

"I suggest you check every cabinet and item in this room for signs of them, Sir. They're known to chew holes in fabrics, for example." He nods towards the closest clothing hung up for display.

[newmemorywhodis]

Lord Willoughby Wigglesworth Pinkerton the Third gasps.

"An infestation!" he cries. "Not in my Special Blue Room! Reginald - Reginald, check the cabinets! Check the tapestries!"

The Lord gestures wildly towards the spectacled man, 'Reginald'. Clearly, the man certainly doesn't intend to check the cabinets and the fabrics himself.

There's a faint twitch of Reginald's left eyebrow. But other than that, his composure is calm and unaffected. "Yes, my Lord," he says, before beginning such a search.

Meanwhile, in the walls Ilphyl will have to work a bit harder to find a second rat to chase. Because after all, there isn't actually an infestation.