Session 17: Assassins at the Masquerade Report
General Summary
Introduction
The bright, yellow sun crests over the distant horizon at the setting of another beautiful day. The yellow light, touched by shades of pink and red from the atmospheric reflection, catches on the windows turning it into a vertical, rainbow-like sea of glass. Through the glass, a young, thin blonde girl walks into the sparsely furnished but somehow disgusting apartment. The older, overweight man lounging on the sofa in a dirty set of overalls doesn't even look up once from his holovid show at the sound of her approach. A half-empty bottle hangs tilted from his fingers about half an inch from spilling onto his clothing or couch and adding to the various stains on both. The girl clears her throat and walks towards the couch. "Dad...I got accepted." *grunt* "It's a very prestigious internship. Only 2 people from our class were accepted. It could lead to a real job in the lab in the future." The man grunts and speaks without breaking eye contact with his show. "This is that...that cosmetic thing? With all them fancy, prancy dudes and them bimbos?" The blonde girl looks down at the filthy sofa and its occupant with clenched teeth and a rising temper. "It's the Plastike Society, dad. It's literally the cutting edge of medical technology." *grunt* "Ain't see what good that does nobody. You coulda come on with me at the factory, used that brain of yours for some actual good. They done right for your grandpaps and me both." The sound of the grinding of clenched teeth is drowned out by the canned laughter from whatever cookie-cutter sitcom is on the holovid. "Dad...Beauty does do actual good. I mean, what good is life without it?" Silence permeates the room for a brief moment as the show changes scenes. Her eyes drift down to a familiar looking picture frame lying on the floor in the corner of the room near the couch surrounded by shards of broken glass. She remembers taking the picture herself on their last family trip to the beaches of Titan. The image shows a younger version of the man on the couch with a massive smile on his face just radiating the aura of the life of the party surrounded by people he loves. His thick arms are around a beautiful, blonde woman on his left and a thin, muscular, dark-haired man with a strong jaw-line on his right. The brotherly facial similarities between the two men in the image are mostly lost now due to the large Xs sliced into the picture over the faces of the woman and man in his arms. She looks back up from the jovial man in the picture to the impassive, broken figure sunk into the couch in front of her and can't find anything recognizable between the two. Her tone sounds more determined then angry as she continues speaking. "Without some beauty in this world to look forward to, life is just...misery. I just thought you would want to know. I'm going to have to move there and not going to be around anymore. Not for a while, at least. This internship is about 2 years and...if I get offered a permanent position there...well I figured you'd want to know." She stares at the man's eyes trying to read anything on his expression. Sadness? Loss? Recognition? The blank stare remains locked onto the screen as the show comes back on, not even having blinked with her big news. "I am going to find some way for anyone who wants to be to become beautiful, whatever that means for them. For anyone to be able to change into whoever they really want to be. To find a way to be beautiful and happy with themselves." She turns around and walks silently towards the door. She hesitates for the briefest of moments and whispers as she turns the door handle, her voice inaudible over the burst of canned laughter from the holovid screen. "Even someone like you." Your Villa still rings with the echoes from the first chime of the doorbell. Anna is currently panicking, packing, and in the form of a 70 year old woman. Tumerian seems to be processing a storm of new, life-threatening information and the prospect of discovering his feminine side rather soon. Mark and Jason haven't moved from their observation of the chaotic events and Kyra seems to be in recovery mode while trying to help Anna through her crisis. Chiara seems to be on the verge of bursting out of the tight, leather catsuit that can't fully zip over her shoulders with her arms bulge up around the thick fur mutation covering her wrists. You hear the cheery chime of the doorbell from the Atrium ring once more. Outside, the bowed head and green, pixie-cut hair of Thessa, the cook from this morning. She looks up at you through the hard-light barrier with her bright, turquoise eyes. "I was told that you requested my services for dinner. I'm glad that you enjoyed my cooking for breakfast. May I enter, and do you have any requests for what I can prepare for you?"Session Start
Regrouping the Party
Dash and Guru Kevin (along with little Botley) requested entry into the city. William Blake remained on the ship alone and with Alexa was given explicit instructions to not let anyone enter that wasn't discussed and not let the ship fly off without Li or Dash's say-so. They were met by Messa, accompanied by 2 Brutish-Looking Guards. Dash and Kevin both set up Funny Money accounts (like the others) not tied into their normal Resources. Kevin had no funds in his (botched roll) but Dash transferred his excess to allow him enough to get inside. Wearing their bracelets, they were escorted to the Villa by Messa and one of the Guards at their request. She demonstrated the Bracelet-Entry technology, Guru Kevin attempted unsuccessfully to get her alone and talk (mentioning the Golden City briefly), and they were met by the Chaos in the Villa inside.Back at the Villa
Suspicious Bracelets
The Crew began to suspect that their Golden Bracelets might be bugged. Anna attempted to break into the Bracelet using a screwdriver and her technical expertise. As soon as the screwdriver attempted to affect the Bracelet, an automatic message replied "Please don't tamper with the Bracelet.". Li attempted to pull it apart and rip it off using force but immediately met with the same response. Anna found a pad of paper and pens in the Atrium that they each decided to use to communicate silently while still talking randomly to assuage suspicion.Questioning Thessa
Li took Kyra and Thessa Wheeler into a side room to discuss, using the pad, what truly brought her there. After a lot of hesitation on her part, seeming suspicious of the two possibly trapping her into admitting anything she shouldn't, Kyra convinced her that she truly knew Kelsi by referencing the locket that Thessa in turn revealed that she had folded into the belt around her Toga. Thessa explained the situation of the Rowners and Wheelers up to Kelsi's death (as detailed in the in the following Timeline). Li and Kyra promised to dispose of the written account and took possession of it. They concluded their verbal ruse of Li painting Kyra and Thessa in the nude and left the room.Back in the Villa
Anna remained in Panic Mode during the questioning. She spent her time donning make-up to hide better and cowering in her room to remain safe from assassins.Jason and Mark relaxed in the Atrium during the insanity.
Chiara returned to her room to attempt to finish slipping into the Catsuit. She did successfully zip it by the time that Dash arrived. He came into the room and asked for information on what the hell had been going on here. She explained what she knew of the situation then asked for his opinion on the Catsuit. He convinced her that it would be more comfortable and look less "bulgy" if she simply cut off the arms up to the forearm. She agreed and complied, though felt obviously self-conscious afterwards. She and Dash exited the room, her to get drinks and him to remain alert in the Atrium. Thessa returned and asked Dash, per Li's instructions, what he would request for dinner. He requested real steaks which she left to inquire after.
Midas' Chest
While the rest remained in the Villa, Guru Kevin had immediately assessed the situation, been commanded not to talk to the Concierge per Dash and Li's request, and got directions from the Concierge to Midas' Chest (casino with Card Games). She clarified that she would be unavailable for the evening while completing the request that Li had made of her. He made his way to the Minor table and successfully won against them all, gaining a Moderate. He experienced slightly more difficulty but won against that table in time as well using his powers of Mind Reading to determine there was a Staff Member plant at the table. He finally was granted a seat at the Greater Table, the single table in the facility that was playing for much higher stakes. He came in and immediately tried to get a read on his opponents (failing miserably). He then lost his Greater over the initial series of rounds. Being left with the option to forfeit entirely or risk going into Debt himself, he convinced the table he needed to go to the restroom and bought himself some time. He pleaded with Dash to come and assist him at the table. Dash relented, came, and helped Guru Kevin win a single round using his powers of Fateweaving to read the importance of the cards at the table. They managed to win back the single Greater that Kevin had earned and left on a high note back to the Villa as the sun set.Shopping Trip Part 2
Meanwhile, Li, Dash, and Kyra went to purchase a Flapper Dress as close to Anna's destroyed one as possible for Li's Disguise. They went back to Carlita's Costumes and Cosmetics. Two guards remained at the doors checking the bracelets of everyone entering inside vs the account on file, obviously a heightened security measure after she was threatened earlier that same day. They went inside and were fortunately not recognized by Carlita von Legua as Kyra now wore the face of a 20th century actress. They luckily found the exact same style of Flapper Dress that Anna had, covering their suspicious nature with the "it's for me" from Li, and learned that Carlita herself had changed genders. The mood shifted for the shopkeeper from that point. They looked after a Suitcase as well but only found a Costumed one, though were told Quenneli sold high-luxury goods (for the prices of Moderate+). Kyra purchased a Tie for Dash made of genuine, local Prowler fur, they took their items, and returned to the Villa.Final Preparations
They all decided on a final course of action as Anna changed Li's features into that of herself. Anna did a final change on her own face before taking it out of the protective case it had always remained in, putting it in the costumed briefcase, and giving Li the unlocked case. Li smuggled his Tanto inside of it. The rest of the group dressed and they all headed out.Splitting the Party Part 2
Jason, Anna (in Disguise), and Botley made their way through town to the Starport with the rest of the group following behind. The rest stopped in Cerebus and watched Jason escort Anna to the ship. They were contacted as soon as they left with the question of whether they were checking out or simply going to their ship temporarily. It was explained to them that they would be expected to settle their accounts or be charged the price of a Bracelet if they left without doing so. They explained it was temporary and made it to the ship. William Blake saw them safely aboard and they relayed it back to the rest. The others made their way to the Midnight Masquerade at long last, all but Guru Kevin and Chiara wearing masks that gave them full visibility but covered little of their face.The Midnight Masquerade
Sunset
The sun was fully setting as they entered the Masquerade. They examined the rooftop and got a feel for the stage, bar, dancefloor, seating area, and the sunset viewing section. Chiara went off to get a drink, Mark headed to watch the sunset (with a lot of attention garnered from the crowds), while the rest went to mingle and pretend to be drinking at the bar. They saw no sign of their assassin. Kyra noticed the attention garnered by Mark, Li noticed the man angrily talking to the guards in the corner, and Dash noticed the beautiful blonde woman that no one seemed to dare to bump into. Kyra recognized her as Anastasia Moroz, daughter to the Versian Ambassador to the ATS. The Crew ensured they were very visible during the event, standing near the northern edge closest to the Band.A Final Dance
After some time, the music shifted from a Waltz to a Tango. The woman approached Dash and they went together to the dance floor, both seeming intrigued by the other. She pressed him for information about who he was as he examined her and found that her hairpin had the symbol of Fate on it. He confronted her directly about it and she denied any knowledge of what he spoke of. The tango ended, she departed, and he walked back to the group unaccosted.The Shift
“As the last beams of sunlight vanish into darkness, the mood on the roof of the Sanguine Heart begins to drastically shift. The bright white and yellow lights dim and contort into neon blues, greens, red, orange, and pink. Light begin to pulse with the shift in the music as you see the instruments set down as the DJ, wearing the masked bulbous head of a large rodent with two massive ears off the back of its head projecting holographic lights and text in front of them.” “The poised dancers break from their pairs and begin to gyrate and grind against each other in a mash as the floor is ringed in walls of pulsing neon lights beaming from the outsides of then boards bright enough to hinder visibility from the outside of the dance floor to those within.” “The bar at the back seems to be shifting and the crowds shift with some dancers going to the edges, some at the bar shifting into the crowd, and many moving into the bar area in the south as a light-blue haze begins to waft up. You hear the nearly drowned out voice of one of the Staff behind the bar shout out “The mists of Avalon are alive once more! Enter the cloud to find your heaven!” A whoop and cheer comes up from several groups that rush into the mists filling the southern area.” Within minutes, the classical Old-Earth party has turned modern Terran in music, lights, and hallucinatory drug infused mists alike.”The Arrival
Out of the darkness and crowds, Beauty appeared and lowered her mask towards "Anna", truly Li in disguise. They all turned to move toward her as Dash heard a pop far in the distance. Li had no time or ability to react as a sniper's bullet tore through his chest, narrowly missing his heart and Kyra bumped him after being jostled by the Crowd. He fell to the ground onto the case, a person behind him felt the remnants of the bullet, everyone screamed, and the fight began. Beauty hesitated and watched Anna like a hawk, even as Dash charged and barely clipped her with his fist. The shouting man was overheard saying "They said 'Paphadis for the locals'!" and two guards approached towards Guru Kevin and Dash alike. Guru Kevin began talking the guard on him down and moving towards the stairs (per Dash's request). Out of the wall of lights around the dance floor, the silhouette of Anastasia Moroz moved into the crowd and threw her hairpin into Dash's chest mere moments after he was shot by the sniper. Dash felt the severe poison enter his bloodstream as his body began to seize up. Kyra, at Dash's command, ran to help Li. Li ran across the party and fell behind Mark who covered him with his body to the point of taking the sniper's shot to his own robotic chest to protect him. They finally got a bead on the sniper's shot from the city wall off to the east. Li pulled out his Tanto out of the case and realized there was a small circular object attached to it that had the same material as the case, tiny metallic legs, and some electronic module pressed against the case. He cut it off just as Beauty approached and threw a dagger with a red, blinking hilt into the case. A hole exploded on the roof to the East. The screaming man walked to one of the guards approaching Dash, triggered something that forced the guard's eyes to turn black and his body to spasm and tense up, and then ran and jumped into the new hole. The guard reached out, grabbed a staff member running towards the stairs beside him, and tore their head cleanly from their body. Kyra grabbed the case with a possible knife bomb in it and threw it into the hole as well. Mark grabbed Li, both severely injured, ran towards the hole, plunged his grappling arrow into the side, and jumped into the hole holding Li. Kyra was left standing and facing Beauty who stared after the fleeing duo.Death at the Disco
Meanwhile, Dash jumped through the wall of lights and smashed his fist into Anastasia's nose. His triumph was cut shot as his body froze up from the poison and he slumped unconscious to the dance floor by her feet. Chiara ran up behind her and managed to cut Anastasia under her arm, spin around as Anastasia turned towards her with blood from her broken nose in her eye, and slice Anastasia's throat open. Anastasia grabbed her throat with both hands to stop the bleeding, starting to fall to the floor defeated, as Chiara jumped forward and plunged the knife through both of her hands and out of the back of her neck. Anastasia fell backwards to the floor, hands pinned to her neck, body covering a section of the light wall, next to the target Fate had given her. Where they had danced together minutes before, both lay dead or dying.Rewards Granted
Minor Milestone
Guru Kevin
Tumerian Li Shen
Kyralin Straussedorph
Savannah Cruise
Jason
Dash Reynard
Report Date
06 Jul 2021
Primary Location
Secondary Location
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