Geartopia : The Case of the Assassination Plot

[cityship]

||Attention, Attention. Would the following personnel please report to the Observation Deck. Please bring with you any weapons and tools you might need. Attention, Attention. would the following personnel please report to the Observation Deck:

Allenby Beardsley
Maridian Gladespring
Ellyn Vitner
Red Robin
Sam Winchester
Dean Winchester
Kanoe Zouichi

Attention, Attention, would the following personnel...||

Stacy's voiced called the entire crew, until all of them were gathered at the Obs Deck. Then, a dossier appeared on the screens, along with the image of a rotating planet.

Planet Designation: Geartopia
Status: Terrestrial, H-class.
Non-sentient life: Extensive flora and fauna.
Semi-Sentient Life: Yes.
Sentient Life: Homo Sapiens, Homo Animalia, Machina Erectus.
Water: 20.6% of the planet's surface.
Climate: Earth-like, Arid desert
Landscape: 70% Desert..
Air: Normoxic concentration.
Air Pressure: 101.3 kPa (kilopascals) = 14.7 psi (pounds per square inch)
Sky: Blue
Sun: A class G2V, yellow star.
Warnings: Wildlife, humanoids and plant-life can be hazardous.
Mission: Find out of town mayoress Nomalanga's suspicions of foul play are correct. Full shore leave will initiate once this is problem is resolved.

Once the entire team was ready, they were whisked of to the planet with little fanfare, their ship landing close to a town, where a woman...well not quite a woman, but a cross between a woman and a hyena dressed in a strange outfit, greeted them along with three other figures behind her. They had arrived near the end of the day, and the sun was beginning to set behind them, staining the sky a deep orange color.

She greeted them with a bow and a wave.

"I think you for coming 'ere just barely an 'our after I send out my distress signal." She mentioned for them to follow her, while the three other figures remained behind.

"I will make this quick, as we are short on time. My name is Nomalanga, and I'm mayoress of Utorian, 'ave been for the past five years. We have asked for a small team to aid us cause some of Snidley's damn dogs have been trying to upsurge the town from my grasp. "e's was the mayor before me, but was removed for having no 'onor. He still has control of some sections of the town due to loyalty and fear, and some townsmen still suspects I threw 'im out to get more power. Now 'e's trying to regain it all, but I have no proof except for a tip I was given by one of my own that says the attack's in two days and there's enough clues stuffed in the 'aunted cave to get the entire town behind me."

She pointed to a cavern on the far left, covered by the dunes of soil and desert sand.

" 'Alf the townsfolk believe the place to be filled with ghosts at night so no one enters unless they have to. But during the day we go in and get our supplies of underground water. The entire place is a maze. I wish I could 'ave send the distress beckon sooner, but we had problems with space pirates recently."

"There is also another problem...the tip also told me one of my own three is a spy. If you could also find out which one, we could end the terrible man's grasp on the town and myself. I am pretty sure they already suspect that I have doubts, but you may find clues inside the cavern. You can also speak to them and ask a few questions, but you should get into the cavern as soon as possible, as not to get too many ghosts attacking you. And there are also men-eating bears spotted inside. My people are strong, but our technology is nothing compared to yours. Once we have more time I can explain to you how I was able to contact you at all. But for now, I can supply you with guns and torches, if you don't have any."

She seemed like a truthful woman, even if her speech was strange and spoke of someone who had lived a harsh life, despite the clothing she wore.

"My three don't trust you at all, due to our stance with outsiders and our last distress signal falling into pirate ears. I understand if you refuse, but if you accept I will make it worth your while, and the rest of your comrades on your ship will be welcomed with open arms one justice and truth is brought to light. My people do not have much but we can offer clothing and animals from our lands in exchange for your services."

[And done! There is no posting order, feel free to all start you own threads to ask questions, or butt in each other's threads while they talk back and forth]

Comments

[battorch]

Tim was about to answer Ellyn in the negative when the ghost protested once more. Clearly it wasn't going to make this easy.

Tim frowned, then turned his attention back to Ellyn. "Avoiding and escaping traps is a large part of what I've been trained for," he said. "I'll go first, since our company is so insistent that it's dangerous." He eyed the ghostly man again, cautious.

[combustible_me]

Ellyn narrowed her eyes. "Awright, jus' be careful. If'n there's any 'splosions I c'n minimize the blast, at least."

Assuming, of course, that was the type of traps that the ghost had meant. Probably not. Didn't mean she wouldn't try.

"I'll be back here 'til ya give the safe signal."

[cityship]

Well this didn't make the spirit too happy about it.

Are you not listening to me? You may be trained in many things, but this is out of your league, boy!

And now he attempted to block them completely.

[battorch]

Tim nodded to her. "I'll keep that in mind," he said.

To the ghost, Tim frowned his displeasure. "What can I say?" he said, "Risk versus reward." He took a breath, then stepped forward to step through.

[combustible_me]

Ellyn scrunched up her face at the ghost, eyes narrowing. She didn't have a lot of experience with ghosts, but weren't they supposed to be incorporeal for the most part? What was this one's game?

She stayed in her position for the moment, but lifted her sword, clasping it with both hands. At the ready, if she needed to do something.

[cityship]

It's not a question of it being a risk or not! It's just a trap!

Great ghosts of the pasts, these two were infuriating. He adjusted his tie, and with a sigh, pushed himself past Ellyn with an Excuse me, and walked right into Tim.

Against his will, Tim found himself stepping backwards.

[battorch]

Tim would have tensed up at the sudden intrusion and the inability to stop himself from walking backwards.

Ohgoditwasinhim.

[cityship]

And just to make sure, 'Tim' took a few extra steps backwards.

Why are you so foolish as to wish to die at this place, stranger?

[combustible_me]

"Ya know, yer jawin' an awful lot 'bout how ya don't want us goin' back there 'cuz it's a trap," Ellyn snarled. "Ya'd be a lot more p'rsuasive if ya were bein' more talk'tive an forthcomin', an' less 'OOOOH DON' GO BACK THERE!' Girl might think ya were hidin' somethin!"

She bungled into Tim, since he was walking backwards haphazardly anyway, and gave him yet another shove back, stabbing her greatsword through his cape. She tried her best to staple Trouble into the ground as well, before spinning away from Tim and leaping further down the corridor. Just where the ghost was trying to convince them all NOT to go.

[ooc: Tim's player is OK with the cloak-stabbity! :)]

[cityship]

OH FOR THE LOVE OF--

The ghost left Tim's body and ran right into Ellyn's stepping away just as the sound of something being lit up was heard and seconds later, a mountain of rocks covered the entire tunnel.

The ghost came out of her, looking both incredibly pleased with himself and INCREDIBLY ANNOYED at you two hooligans.

I'll give you one thing, you outsiders are tenacious. Stupid, but tenacious. Most locals just run away from my sight.

[combustible_me]

"Ain't afraid o'ya!" Ellyn snarled. "An' how hard would it'a been ta tell us that? Anyway, I could'a handled that! I dunno about birdy back there, but I'd'a been jus' fine." Sorry Tim, she's pointing at you.

Yeah, she was more miffed about being rescued like a damsel in distress, than not having a metric ton of rocks fall on her. Priorities straight?

Naaah, but that was a pyromancer for you.

"So if ya wanna stand around yammerin', ya got any good information ta give?"

[battorch]

On the bright side, it was out of him. Because that was not an experience he really wanted to continue living.

He really did appreciate Ellyn's tenacity and quick thinking (and general toughness, though it was edging into recklessness pretty quickly), but those were compliments that could wait until later. When they weren't dealing with ghosts and nearly getting crushed by rocks. (He could also use that time to complain about the 'birdy' comment.)

Tim pressed a button to detach his cape from the rest of his costume, before he pulled himself and dusted himself off, taking a brief moment to compose himself again.

He stepped towards Ellyn, putting a hand on her shoulder just briefly in a silent suggestion to cool it a little. Not that he wasn't annoyed either.

"She has a point," Tim said slowly as he pulled away from her again. His voice was a lot more even and level. "We're here to poke our noses into things. A details warned would more likely go yielded." A pause, and then, "I take it you've seen a lot of the going ons here, then."

[cityship]

"Damn right I've seen some things." He paused a little. "...So wait, you're actually going to talk to me?"

The ghost appeared not to be used to this treatment.

"Wish I could remember my name or how I died. All I know is that I died pretty much like how little Missy might have gone there, wither she liked it or not."

[combustible_me]

Ellyn jerked a hand at her sword, unburning it. The metal made a slight fizzling noise as it slowly disappeared. She gave a grunt.

"Name's Ellyn, not 'missy'. An' I wouldn't'a died. Too much air gettin' 'tween th' rocks ta kill me like that." But that was enough of pyromancer dirty tricks, for now.

"Actually kind'a sorry ya don't 'member yer name. Could'a informed yer kin, not that I ain't gonna try that anyway--someone's gotta know ya," Ellyn said. "An' fer serious, ya got a good reason we shouldn't talk ta ya? Yer only dead."

[cityship]

I didn't catch half of what you said, he replied tilting he his. But it wasn't just rocks... he pointed to the huge gaping hole in his chest. There were explosions too.

He sat down (that is he sat in the air), deep in thought.

I know I've been hear for a long time. Enough for the townsfolk to call the mine haunted. No one really talked how I felt about it, however. Regardless, it is good to hear the sound of someone else's voice for long. I suppose I must have some use, if I'm still here and not sent off.

[battorch]

Tim didn't bother pointing out that Ellyn could probably have handled that, too, from what he knew of her now. He figured she was more than willing to point that out herself if she wanted to.

"Red Robin," Tim offered to the nameless ghost. Might as well stick to manners. "I'm sorry for your situation as well." At least now they were talking. That was a big improvement on the previous situation. And it sounded like the man was keen on talking to them, and having some interaction.

"Maybe you can be of help to us, then, if you're willing," he said, dropping just a bit of the edge from his normal tone. "We're looking for information in here. About an assassination plot. Do you think you might have heard or seen anything that might be able to help us?"

[cityship]

Assassination.... he stroked what remained of his mane, thinking. This would work much better if I could remember who I was. But I have heard voices the last three days, actually. Not the usual day voices of the villages either. People have been coming here late at night.

[combustible_me]

"If ya c'n remember anythin', it'd be a big help. An' if we c'n get help from you, I got no problem helpin' yer family claim ya from down here, give ya proper rest," Ellyn said.

She figured they were on a countdown, and if she kept yapping, it wouldn't be much help to the townsfolk, so whatever complains she had could blow in the wind, so to speak.

"C'n ya tell us 'bout these strangers an' voices?"

[cityship]

I remember...family....disowning someone...I... he paused to think. It was a long time ago...

As for the voices. There were many. I heard a man grunting and the sound of a bear attacking, a tiny voice accompanied by a few others whispering and laughing amongst themselves...and a voice I....when I heard it I nearly tour an entire piece of the cavern!

...at least I would have if I could move rocks. I can only stay in this area, unfortunately.

[battorch]

Tim frowned, thoughtful. He was mostly focusing on the description of the voices, though he did want to do what he could for the ghost, if possible. But that could come later.

And this seemed to be going more with his theory about the family. "Can you remember any other details? Any snippets of conversation you might be able to remember, or any details on what the voices sounded like, in particular?" Then, a pause, and he asked, "When you say a 'tiny voice,' do you mean a child, such as a young girl?"

[cityship]

Young girl...I... he put his hands to his deformed head. Something like that, yess...or much younger...the cries? It was cries!

I had...a son once too...

[combustible_me]

"D'ya 'member th' voice that made ya angry? D'ya know th' body's name?" Ellyn inquired.

"We wanna help ya," she coaxed, sounding almost gentle. "Ya seem ta want ta help people, an' yer already doin' a lot by tellin' us this stuff."

She hoped there wasn't actually an infant or a toddler down here someplace, or there was going to be a very, very angry pyromancer, later...

[cityship]

His name..yes...I just...I can't...remember...his name...

[battorch]

"It's alright," Tim coaxed, frowning. He was trying not to let himself get too angry about the thought of a child in danger. The rage had been building under the surface for a while now. "If we can help you at all, we will."

Then, he said, "anything at all you can remember will help. Try to focus on details, build from there."

[cityship]

I remember voices laughing, he said again. They seemed to be quite pleased of their ruse. Another time, a man fighting a giant bear. The click of the bats...they drive me insane during some nights, truthfully...