EVENT #17: EPULUM - COORDINATION POST

[abraxasmods]

Event #17 - Coordination

OOC Plotting Post ⦁ IC Event Log ⦁ Nocwich

This post is for coordination while the event is ongoing, to prevent the IC Event Log from being overrun by OOC mod and player communications. The comments section will contain applicable comments and forms for you to reply to as needed.

Use this post to:

◎ Contact the mods
◎ Submit your suspected culprit
◎ Investigate the crime or track ongoing investigations
◎ Submit noticeable actions
◎ Write rapid IC exchanges

Available Forms

For details on each form, see the sections below.
Be sure to reply under the applicable category as required.

Mod Communications

If you have any questions about the limits or scope of what you can do before you formalize it in an investigation, you can go over the details with us here. You can also submit the suspect to Celeste under the appropriate heading. Submitting the name of the suspect is not required to complete the mystery, but doing so may contribute to whether the suspect is caught or escapes.

If you have questions about non-investigative aspects of the event, see the Questions thread on the OOC Plotting Post.

Contact Us

<b>Player Name:</b> <b>Character Name:</b> <b>Submission:</b> (Describe your question OR write the name of the Witness your character will accuse as the suspect)

Investigations

To leave opportunities for others, please limit the scope of your actions per submission. For example, if you'd like to test a key, you must specify a narrow set of locks in a particular section. Additionally, while there are no strict limits on how many investigations you can be involved in, we do ask that you try to stagger them a little to help us keep pace.

You can investigate something multiple times as long as it makes sense for your character to try again. This includes following up with witnesses if characters learn new information. To investigate, fill out the form, then comment under the item you're investigating.

Investigate a witness, scene, or evidence

<b>Player Name:</b> <b>Character Name:</b> <b>Other characters involved:</b> <b>Witness/Scene/Evidence:</b> (What is the witness, scene, or evidence your character is exploring?) <b>Action:</b> (Describe what your character is attempting to do and how. If multiple characters are taking action, include their actions.) <b>Thread:</b> <a href="urlhere">Thread</a> (If applicable. Linking a thread is NOT required, but can help us tailor our responses) <b>Notes:</b> (Anything else)

IC Exchanges

Use this option if you have an interaction you'd like to play out, but setting up a standard IC thread would be impracticable. For example, if your character wants to speak to several people about a piece of evidence, you might want to do an IC exchange. IC exchanges can take place in the real world or the Horizon.

Treat this like an informal IC network thread done in person, where character reactions, snippets of dialogue, and other details can be quickly played out and concluded in-game without committing to a full log thread. Exchanges are game canon, and can count towards Activity Check under the category of a Network thread.

Start an IC exchange

Using the provided form is optional. Begin a thread freeform if you prefer.

<b>Where & when:</b> (Where and when is this exchange taking place?) <b>Purpose:</b> (What's the reason for this exchange?) <b>THREAD START</b> (Write the scenario, your character's actions, and any dialogue as usual)

Notable Actions

Submit any notable actions that are likely to gain attention from other players such as fights or disturbances.

Submit a notable action

<b>Player Name:</b> <b>Character Name:</b> <b>When:</b> (Approximately when is this incident taking place?) <b>Where:</b> (Where is this incident taking place?) <b>What:</b> (Describe the incident) <b>Link:</b> <a href="urlhere">Thread</a> (If applicable. Actions can be submitted without a thread if they're minor.)

Comments

[cryptsleeper]

What's done is done.

[techmaturgy]

I suppose it is.

[cryptsleeper]

Exactly. Now if everyone can move beyond it like I have, that'd be lovely.

[theidlemaiden]

𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵?

[ Yeah she's not moving past this. ]

[aquaveiled]

Lick the floor?

[techmaturgy]

Maybe you should have thought about that before you licked the floor!

[cointosser]

Alucard, why the fuck are you going around licking the floor? What did that candy do to you?

[lightkeeping]

They will do that! They'll remove the flowers to look inside the vase.

[magicalarchaeologist]

Istredd will look surprised at that reveal and tell her he's sorry that happened to her friend. He'll ask her if she has any reason to suspect someone else and why she thinks they might have done such a thing.

Cassian asks what credentials Umber offered that made her the best candidate and what did she look like, where did she come from, did Retha know anything else about her?

[abraxasmods]

While there are plants available in Ikorr, none are currently in the area marked off for the carnivale.

Marcellus is also surprised since Ikorr takes its security very seriously. He says he suspects the Feywilds may be involved. They're the only ones with magic to rival Ikorr, but he adds he doesn't know why they would risk starting a war now. He adds he's no expert, however, he's just a chef.

[abraxasmods]

Marcellus will greet Jaskier and say that he has heard of him. He will make a pointed remark that it's been said Jaskier has become very friendly with the Lunae Circle, but he doesn't sound unfriendly.

Happy to talk about his wine, Marcellus will engage Jaskier on the topic. He's pleased to meet a fellow winemaker. Since Marcellus is also fueled by ego, he will find the offer of a song quite attractive. Though he doesn't agree to hand over the Dusk Rose yet, he admits Ikorr's insular nature has prevented his wine (and reputation) from reaching a wider audience.

He appears interested in the idea of Jaskier promoting his enterprise. He will politely decline any flirtations, though, since he's taken.

[abraxasmods]

Retha laughs a little. She claims that's just a rumor, though they are very good friends. While she isn't being truthful, she seems to be playing coy rather than lying.

She says that's possible since Umber took a very important role by replacing Cassia. Umber was temporarily assigned Cassia's dressing room. Retha noticed it went untouched all day and evening. She was quite busy and didn't pay attention to this detail at first, but now that all these bizarre occurrences have come to light, she thinks it's important.

Firewing is a regular intelligent bird. Retha seems to be a genuine ventriloquist and isn't using magic when performing this part of the bit. If Jaskier is capable of communicating with birds or animals, he may try to "speak" to Firewing.

[abraxasmods]

Jayden will notice blood around the area, but this is likely due to the amount of spilled blood wine and vampire feedings that've occurred throughout the carnivale, as well as the typical rambunctious fights that break out during large gatherings as this. If you wish, they can follow one trail of blood to a vampire who nursing a broken nose in an unrelated incident.

Michael would be able to learn through his conversation with the chef that Marcellus usually uses his private parties to serve the Dusk Rose. That's what makes his private parties so exclusive. With that information, they can conclude that Marcellus has declined to have his wine anywhere after Epulum, which might be for a reason.

[abraxasmods]

The botanist says he hopes so, too, and thinks the peace between Ikorr and Luna is a good thing. He hopes the other business owners come around and adapt instead of finding fault with the situation. He worries the controversy will harm all of them in the long run.

He gives a card in return and will be happy to meet if the opportunity arises.

[abraxasmods]

Retha is less open on this subject, but she confesses that that's not quite the reason. She and Soraya have already been involved, but the relationship didn't work out. While Retha regrets how they parted, she says she really is just worried for someone she still cares about.

[abraxasmods]

The water inside the vase has turned into a thick black sludge. They can find another container to pour it out in or, if they fail to look closely, can suffer the misfortune of putting their hand in the liquid without knowing. The substance won't harm them, but it's oily and unpleasant.

They will be able to remove a third leather sachet. Inside it will be the same almond-sized seed found in the others. It is completely dry.

If they coordinate with their fellow Summoned, they may discover some additional information including a memory from Firewing of someone entering this dressing room to plant it, and that Retha has told several people that she now believes Cassia's illness may have been caused deliberately, though she can't prove it.

[abraxasmods]

In their search, Kelson and Michael will discover a vase that's had its flowers removed. There was a sachet here, but another group of Summoned have discovered it, though they are unaware of its connection to Firewing's memory.

The two groups can coordinate their information to match up the details.

[abraxasmods]

Marcellus has no concept of angels, but says that Summoned blood hasn't been experimented with. He suggests it would be possible as long as it's voluntary, of course.

They can snag a strand of hair from Marcellus, but as others have discovered, Marcellus is not using his real hair and is wearing a wig. Castiel might be able to use his senses to tell that the sample doesn't belong to Marcellus. While the wig itself is made from real hair, it lacks the natural oils that would come from being someone's authentic growing hair.

That Marcellus is wearing a wig is strange by itself. Most guests have chosen costume-like wigs using bright and unnatural colors, but Marcellus's wig doesn't seem to be a part of his costume.

[abraxasmods]

According to the wine seller, this is a common view of Marcellus's rivals. He says it might be true, but it might also be a smear campaign. In his opinion, Retha is the jealous type, but her gossip is usually rooted in truth.

He adds a couple of his colleagues have started to say that Marcellus has been missing payments owed to his purveyors. Marcellus claims that any missed payments are an oversight from his incompetent assistants, not due to a lack of funds.

[abraxasmods]

Retha doesn't know who it might be. All performers of their caliber have rivals, but if this is linked to the theft, then it must be more than jealousy.

Since the replacement was so rushed, Retha was only looking for someone who was willing to be submerged in water at length and had the background of an underwater dancer. The performer also needed to be roughly the same build and height as Cassia since there was no time to alter the costume.

She doesn't know anything else about Umber. Retha describes her appearance as attractive but unremarkable beyond her height being taller than average, which was the main reason Retha hired her. Cassia was a Draconum, so she was quite tall.

[cointosser]

Jaskier will admit he's gotten in with the werewolves, mostly because he met them as a delegate... though he will joke that doing so almost got him blown up. One always has to decide if new company is worth the risk.

Jaskier will commiserate, considering he's been attempting to spread his songs to all three of the factions, and is in the process of trying to set up permanent places in each, and Oleuni Square, if both werewolf and vampire are partial to it, where his songs will be played publicly.

He'll politely set aside his flirting ("whoever has so won such a hand is quite lucky indeed") and offer Marcellus a sampling of off the cuff music, if he's so inclined. (As if he goes anywhere without his lute.) Jaskier will also bring up his involvement in the Arts Restoration Committee, in which he has several times before brought spotlights onto other "fellow artists,"... to mean he's quite an old hand at this.

[gynvael]

Player Name: Noa
Character Name: Geralt of Rivia
Other characters involved: Wrench

Witness/Scene/Evidence: Marcellus Ver (?) Sorry, I didn't know where best to put this but I thiiiink it's most related to this guy
Action: Geralt and Wrench are just sniffing around, but Wrench has been circling this purple aura that he's been seeing? The one that's mostly concentrated around Marcellus. Wrench would be trying to see if he can narrow it down to a source, and Geralt is suspicious in general bc of details he's gotten from Yennefer and others.

They probably wouldn't talk to him yet, but is there a way they can follow him and see how that purple aura sort of moves/functions/changes?

Thread: Thread
Notes: I know I put this in on the late side, so totally OK if nothing super vital comes up! We're just looking for something for the two of them to poke at.

[abraxasmods]

Marcellus offers his sympathies for such an ordeal. He knew about the delegates attacked on Ikorran soil, but not the third delegate who visited Luna.

He will happily listen to Jaskier's music. It's different than the type common to Ikorr, but he enjoyed it and says he can see Jaskier's found his calling, something Marcellus understands since he feels the same way about the culinary arts. He's pleased somebody recognizes that cooking is an art! Not enough people appreciate this.

Marcellus confesses he thinks others approach him for his wine because they feel it adds to their self-importance, but nobody wants it for the art of winemaking itself. That's why he's so particular about who he shares it with. This is the first time someone has seen him as another artist, not just an investor or business owner. If Jaskier is interested, he would like to deliver him a bottle once Epulum is over.

Jaskier may attempt to convince him to share the wine now if he is interested in collecting related evidence.

[wiedzminka]

Player Name: Lena
Character Name: Ciri
Other characters involved: Jaskier

Witness/Scene/Evidence: Retha's hair
Action: Ciri grabbed the hairbrush from Cassia's dressing room and is delivering it for sampling.
Notes: Since Soraya will ask how Jaskier and Ciri obtained the hairbrush, Ciri will tell her they found out about Cassia possibly being poisoned and her close friendship with Retha. As a bard, Jaskier was moved to help in the name of love... or "being very good friends." Ciri looked in Cassia's dressing room to see if there was evidence of poisoning and found this hairbrush. She took it to help get to the bottom of the investigation as soon as possible. (Ciri won't directly say she stole it or broke in, but she's not really pretending anyone let her in either...)

private.

[gynvael]

Yen is examining another seed.

I can bring it to you afterwards,
if you wish to make a second attempt.