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

[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...

[combustible_me]

"Ya c'n wear us like a suit, but ya can't 'member th' guy's name? Ya think ya c'n wear me or somethin' an' show me th' guy in my mind or somethin'?"

Ellyn was really not that weirded out about the possession, and hell, if it helped, she was willing to let him in again. Maybe he could remember his name while he was at it.

[cityship]

I can't seem to remember...any names...or faces...something needs to happen before I...darkness...

[battorch]

Tim frowned, watching the ghost for a moment. This wasn't going so well so far.

"If we gave you some names, would you possibly be able to recognise them?" he asked. "And, please, tell us anything we can do for you to help."

[cityship]

Names...yes! He stood up again. I think this might help...

[battorch]

"Alright," Tim said, pleased by the positive reaction.

He began to list the names, voice even for each, waiting for the ghost to react. He wasn't going to put any emphasis on any of them, he didn't want to alter the ghost's perceptions of them: "Nomalanga, Mekaisto, Allard, Taworri, Snidley. Do any of these sound familiar to you?"

[cityship]

He nodded no for all of them until...

Snid-- The man's eyes turned into glowing white, as his entire face morphed with disgust. In race, he tore at the cave and unlike previously, it was pushed away from his great anger.

"THAT BOY! THAT TERRIBLE, EVIL BOY!" He took the rock, and threw it across to the other pile, roaring at it in pure rage. I SWEAR HE WAS BORN EVIL! I KNEW IT IN MY HEART WHEN I LOOKED INTO HIS EYES!

Rocks were torn away from his movements, as he tried to throw everything down (only being stuck inside a cave there was nothing to throw down but more rocks)

HE IS A CURSE UPON THIS WORLD! I DISOWNED HIM! HE...KILLED ME!

...oh well...uh. Okay. Guess that answered that question.

[combustible_me]

Well, that certainly was telling, wasn't it?

"Ya wanna get revenge? We're tryin' ta find him an' prove what a jerkass he really is! An' save a bunch'a people while we're at it!" Ellyn bellowed.

"So ya seen him down here? An' I take it he left th' li'l present down here for us, eh?"

She just glanced at Tim like, "well, there's something", and shrugged a little.

[cityship]

He turned around at then, the white glow leaving his eyes.

Nonchalantly, he adjusted his cravat, and stood normally again, coughing.

"Revenge, my dear, is not something that will win us wars and bring peace to this land...although always tempting. However..." he paused, placing a hand through his own hole. "I am undead. I suppose the reason I still am here was for one such purpose. Information giving, that is."

With a tiny bow, he presented himself.

"Leonus Pridley, Mayor of Utorian for twenty years...at least until my son decided to take the mantle for himself and killed me. I suppose whatever was done here, caused me to loose my memories of the years. I suppose a good jolt was all I need, ha ha ha!"

Wow it was pretty disturbing to see him laugh like that, considering all his organs moved along with it.

[battorch]

Well, there was their answer.

Tim backed up, giving the ghost some room in his fit of rage.

And, while hearsay was only so much to go on, an accusation of murder from someone who was actually dead-- and apparently the father? Was certainly a hefty thing to throw out there, for their advantage. He rifled through his belt for a recorder, unsure if it'd even work here. Worth a try, right?

He cast a glance to Ellyn, wary, before he said to Leonus, "Well met. And you're right. We want justice here, not revenge." Then, he explained, "We're here to uncover an apparent plot, of Snidley's. An assassination plot against the current mayoress. We've been lead to believe that the answers are in here."

[cityship]

The recorder did pick up pieces of his speech, but at intervals and sounding like static for the most part.

However, a look of triumph came upon the ghost' features.

"Ahh! So someone uncovered his plans then! I was afraid that my poor town would simply disappear due to his misuse of power...but it has been so long. I am afraid of what he might have planned, and unfortunately I am stuck in this area...perhaps if you explain me what you know I will try to aid you."

[combustible_me]

"Nomalanga's the mayor now an' she sent the distress call that got us here. She said yer boy's tryin' ta retake the town an' terrorizin' citizens ta do it, an' that one'a her own might be a spy fer him."

Ellyn looked at Red Robin, brow arching again. He had to have stuff to add, she wasn't the brains of this outfit!

[cityship]

"I don't know of this woman, but she sounds like my type of gal." The fact he didn't probably told them how long he had been dead in the first place. "My son was...oh fifteen I believe?"

"Now about those three, were they the names you gave me off along with the lady's? Although Taworri....would she be a crow-like, by any chance?"

[battorch]

Alright, the man had been gone for a long time now. Tim frowned.

"Mekaisto is crow-like," Tim explained, "The secretary. Her bodyguard, Taworri, is a tiger, and her agent, Allard, is a type of cat. I believe the child in here may be his."

[cityship]

"Ahh so a terrible guess upon my part then!" he gestures stroking his chin. "I knew of a chap named Taworo. A crow. Married the fairest raven on the land. Their family has been making candies out of the cactus fruits for generations."

He paused thinking.

"Yes that would make sense as to the noises I heard two days ago. I believe it was a small child crying."