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

RETHA ZELPHA (FIREWING)

[abraxasmods]

[thedreamer]

Player Name: Kris
Character Name: The Doctor
Other characters involved: Julia

Witness/Scene/Evidence: Speaking with Retha Zelpha
Action: To begin with, the Doctor & Julia would take the position of just wanting to get to know Retha a bit, put her at ease. They would attempt to ingratiate themselves with Retha, to know her better, and would take the position of earnest, curious newcomers dazzled by the sights; their timing would be such that they'd catch the tail end of her performance and when there's a free moment, they would approach and ask if she had a little time to spare for new fans here in Ikorr for the first time. Depending on if she's willing to indulge, they would start by simply introducing themselves, both to her and to Firewing.

The Doctor would be curious:
-Had she done this routine most of her life?
-Had she ever done any other type of performances like juggling or sword swallowing, was she always called to this and only this? Given her talents (between the acrobatics and the ventriloquism), he would find it easy to imagine her being a dab hand at anything she cared to try.

While the Doctor speaks to Retha, Julia would attempt to charm Firewing through her gain (supernatural charm of animals). Julia would also attempt to flatter her and appeal to her ego, asking her for make-up tips.

Given the bustle around them and mindful not to inundate her with too much all at once, the Doctor will pause to ask her if there's anything he can possibly help with so she can settle (along the lines of, surely after a flurry of performances some cleaning up help would be appreciated, and he works fast!)
Thread: Thread
Notes: There will be follow-up questions if she's willing to accept either of their company for a bit, hoping she might give them "the time of day (night)," possibly back to her dressing room or at least back behind the stage, for a little extra chatter, so as not to make her feel put under a microscope.

[abraxasmods]

Retha approaches with Firewing on her arm and greets them with a demure smile. Her makeup and costume doesn't have a feather out of place despite her physically demanding performance. She will laugh and assure him she has done it many times in her life, but leaves the blades and fire hazards to others.

Fortunately for the Doctor and Julia, Retha is a social butterfly and happy to gossip. She chatters as they walk along the path. Firewing the bird seemingly offers as many makeup tips as Julia wants, and recommends a shop in the Square that sells high quality pigments.

As they walk to her dressing room, they pass by another empty dressing room that Retha seems to glance at with a measure of concern. Once they are inside Retha's own dressing room, she'll take the Doctor up on his offer with a twinkle in her eye that suggests she knows he's buttering her up but she will allow it. She asks him to hold her bird while she grooms Firewing's feathers and plops the bird into his hands without waiting for an answer.

She has about twenty minutes before she must return to work, she explains, so they may have her time until then.

[thedreamer]

The Doctor is noticeably delighted to hold the bird, reverent and gentle with his touch. He thanks Retha and compliments them both on Firewing's feathers; a dazzling color! To continue the conversation:

1. The Doctor would ask Retha how many more performances she has tonight and if she'll be looking forward to resting immediately afterwards or plan to see the sights?

2. Curious if Retha and Firewing (the bird) are possibly linked in some way, the Doctor would also speak directly to Firewing while he holds the bird, asking Firewing their plans after the night of performances is over. Mostly just to see if there's a different response/the same response/and if there's anything notable the Doctor can sense from the bird (separate from Retha) through his ability to speak with animals. If that is even possible, or if that's a dead end.

3. Having noticed her glance at the empty dressing room, they would also try to poke around a bit with a gently prodding question: Is this the usual lineup tonight? Happened to notice that empty room and wondered if that was a performer about to go onstage, or someone not here tonight that they should be sure to catch the next time around?

4. Julia will ask Retha if she can possibly use the empty dressing room to freshen up herself because she thinks all the dancing has her out of sorts. She's also covered in glitter and would like to clean up a little, in PRIVATE. She'll say 'you know how first dates are' with a blushing look at the Doctor, to seem as innocent as possible. As an aside, the Doctor will be noticeably flustered at the word 'date,' awkwardly laugh, and say, I'm told people get the hang of this sort of mutually agreed upon meeting up with someone after a bit? Some people? Others? Anyone else I'm sure.

[abraxasmods]

1. She has one more tonight, and says she has many sights to explore.

2. If he uses speak with animals, Firewing will demonstrate the average intelligence of a cockatoo, impressive but not unusual. It appears that Retha really is speaking on the bird's behalf, which she continues to do so intermittently while she grooms her bird. The bird appears curious by these new guests and will repeat that "something is in the water" to the Doctor, though it is not capable of elaborating.

3. Retha will drop her coy demeanor briefly when he mentions the dressing room. She admits one of her longtime performers fell ill the night before. The role was filled at the last minute, but the entire parade broke down regardless so it appears it didn't matter, anyways. In light of this, maybe Cassia's illness was some good fortune. It'd be a shame if her reputation was marred by such a public disaster.

4. Retha will scrutinize Julia for a long time. However, she'll relent and grant permission, though she tells Julia to make it fast - no one's supposed to be in there. In Julia's absence, she will entice the Doctor to tell her all about how his first date is going.

[parce]

Player Name: trace
Character Name: nikolai lantsov
Other characters involved: none!

Witness/Scene/Evidence: Casually questioning/flirting with Retha Zelpha
Action: nikolai would, at first, see if he could catch any tidbits of conversation or otherwise while he lingers around because he's low level influence and probably not noticeable.

but he wouldn't want to just leave it at that and he would try and approach retha, using the charm and skill he's picked up from being a monarch to try and put her at ease. he would compliment her and firewing, tell her that her act was his favorite and generally try and make it so she thinks she's the one on control.

he would offer to buy her a drink as a way to unwind after the performance and say whatever she wanted was on him.
Thread: none though there is a general top level hereabout him talking to witnesses
Notes: if he can, he's going to try and connect with her when it comes to rivals and such being close to them since he himself was considered a spare and tossed away before he became king of ravka.

[abraxasmods]

He'll be able to overhear Retha discussing Marcellus Ver. Though it's difficult to make out everything she's saying over the noise, she appears to find speaking about him disdainful.

Retha is very pleased to receive a distinguished visitor and is flattered by his compliment. She will accept his invitation, and bring him to a resting area where wine is served. Technically, as a well-known performer, she often receives drinks on the house at Epulum...but she is quite happy to let Nikolai pay for it and makes no effort to dissuade him.

As a gossip, it would be possible to get her talking about rivals. What would Nikolai tell or ask her about it in particular?

[parce]

and nikolai will continue to happily pay for her choice of drinks, joining her with his own drinks.

nikolai would try and start things easily enough, asking her:
- how she got her start in performing? was it something she wanted to do, was it inspired by something?
- he'd ask her about what sort of life she has outside the demands of a performer
- he would inquire about things like how she got to be such a talented performer, what sort of steps she took, working from the bottom to the top sort of thing
- he would share parts of his home, that his parents and brother are both gone, that they didn't get along but he misses them now to try and gain sympathy
- if she shared about her own difficulties once he told her his own story, he'd sympathize and offer help if she ever needed a steady hand to assist

[abraxasmods]

Retha was a performer from a young age, and grew up in the life. She'll speak casually about her background and life. It would mostly seem her days revolve around this between managing other performers, recruitment, and performing herself.

Though she's had some difficulties, her life is fairly good. She likes what she's doing.

What aspect of her rivals would he ask about specifically? Does he want to know about her lovers or her rivals in the industry?

[familysucks]

Player Name: Nri
Character Name: Michael
Other characters involved: Kelson Haldane

Witness/Scene/Evidence: Speaking with Retha Zelpha to see what information she might be willing or able to share about Cassia and the woman who took Cassia's place in the parade.
Action: Michael and Kelson will approach Retha with apparent interest in the parade and performances taking place during the Carnivale night. Word has it she knows everything about everyone with a talent for the performance arts around here, so she seems the right person to ask. The Summoned were invited to the Nether recently, and some of the youths there raved about a Miss Cassia's talents—but it appears she didn't perform this year and someone else took her place. Now they both seem to be absent. Are they both well?
Thread: None yet, but we're following up from this thread
Notes: N/A

[abraxasmods]

Cassia's name makes Retha hesitate. She explains that Cassia was meant to perform tonight, but fell unexpectedly ill, forcing Retha and organizers to find a last minute replacement. One came out of nowhere.

She admits she didn't examine the performer as thoroughly as usual due to the rush. She believes that's the reason why the parade collapsed. It's disappointing. She's surprised to hear the woman vanished, however. The substitute performer hasn't been paid yet. Why would she leave so abruptly? Are they sure she's actually missing?

[familysucks]

They remark that that's very unfortunate timing. What kind of illness did Cassia come down with that struck so quickly? Does Retha know if she went anywhere out of the norm or met with anyone new before she fell ill?

As for the substitute performer, all they can be certain of is that no one they've spoken to has seen her since her float broke down. It might help them reassure the people worried about her if they could locate her. Does she know the performer's name? Does she have a dressing room she'd return to after, or would Retha know where she planned to be after the parade?

[abraxasmods]

Retha says Cassia was spending the majority of her time here to practice her routine and prepare.

The woman introduced herself by her stage name Umber. She was assigned Cassia's dressing room to get ready, but Umber must've never used it since the empty dressing room across the hall is still mostly untouched. Retha's been too busy to really think about it, but concedes this is all quite odd. She doesn't know very much about Umber due to how hasty the hiring process was. This isn't how she likes to run her shows, but it was necessary.

She'll help look for Umber and requests that Michael please keep her informed if he can find her.

[magicalarchaeologist]

Player Name: Dee & Terra
Character Name: Istredd
Other characters involved: Cassian

Witness/Scene/Evidence: Retha
Action: Istredd and Cassian introduce themselves to Retha as Summoned and that they really enjoyed the celebration tonight. Istredd mentions that they heard a woman named Cassia was supposed to perform tonight, and they'd been looking forward to seeing her. Cassian asks who she was replaced by and what happened to her, poor thing.
Thread: N/A for now
Notes: N/A for now!

[abraxasmods]

They won't be the first to ask about Cassia tonight. Retha appears prepared to answer. She says Cassia fell unexpectedly ill shortly before Epulum. She's recovering well, but it's odd. Cassia doesn't usually get sick.

She was replaced by the vampire who took the role of the Drowning Maiden. That's the role that Cassia has been playing for many years.

[magicalarchaeologist]

Istredd shows sympathy and also surprise if Cassia ordinarily is very healthy, that seems like a strange thing to happen. Was it food poisoning or should they be concerned about a sudden illness moving around?

Cassian asks who the vampire replacement was and if she's around for them to meet.

[abraxasmods]

At this, Retha will lower her voice and says that while she can't prove it, in light of the recent disruptions and theft, she believes Cassia must've been poisoned. Nobody else became ill, and in the days leading up to Epulum, they would dine together and eaten mostly the same dishes.

The replacement performer only gave her stage name, Umber. Retha hasn't seen her and says Cassian's "friends," meaning the other Summoned, have told her that Umber is missing. This is strange since she hasn't paid Umber yet, and no performer would run out on a large payday.

[cointosser]

Player Name: Hannah
Character Name: Jaskier
Other characters involved: N/A (Ciri by proxy, but he's alone)

Witness/Scene/Evidence: Speaking with Retha and Firewing
Action: Coming over from here, Jaskier will be happy to pull her aside and speak on the merits of performing (and birds!) He will offer Firewing many compliments on their plumage, and Asher, his white raven, will caw with appreciation.

He will provide plenty of compliments on her new costumes, and make a few small suggestions -- especially incorporating bird motifs, as that's his favourite as well.

After some time, he'll bring up that he overheard the Maiden was replaced with a performer named Umber, who he will ask after (after adding his regrets, having heard that Cassia was ill.) His intention was he was going to look into hiring her for one of his own performances, as he enjoyed her greatly, but he has seen no sign of her, and no one else appears to have, either.

Thread: Thread. Branching off from here!
Notes: Mostly, Jaskier's a vested interest in finding Umber as he's worried that a performer should go missing after being the replacement for another -- he fears she was mistaken for Cassia herself, or worse... as he's well aware of the dangers of jealousy among performers. Ultimately he is trying to get info from Retha while Ciri explores the dressing room to see if all the belongings in there are Cassia's, or if something of Umber's lingers as a clue.

[abraxasmods]

Retha will offer similar compliments in return and overall seems to enjoy Jaskier's company.

She explains that he isn't the first person to ask about Cassia. As additional news has come, Retha's become a bit worried, too. Umber hasn't been paid yet for her performance since she arrived at the last minute. It doesn't make sense that she would disappear. Retha reported the missing person to the Sentinels, but since they have their hands full with the theft, she isn't sure how well they can help.

She asks him if he thinks Umber is in danger. Has he heard anything about it?

[cointosser]

Jaskier will agree he's more inclined to think something has happened to her because she hasn't returned for payment after the performance. He'll start on an anecdote on how a fellow jealous bard once tried to push him out a window. Not that he thinks Umber was pushed out of a window, but if someone compromised Retha's lover on purpose, it isn't impossible the same happened to Umber.

He'll ask if there is a place that Umber would have used as a dressing room, or if she had any other close friends among the performers. Is there a reason multiple performers would try to be the Drowned Maiden?

Additionally, since Jaskier's magic is centered around birds (illusionary and otherwise), would he get any strange feelings from Firewing itself?

[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.

[unwings]

Player Name: Jay
Character Name: Castiel
Other characters involved: Cadfael

Witness/Scene/Evidence: Retha, maybe Cassia if possible
Action: Cadfael and Cas are heading over to the dressing rooms to ask Retha if she'd be willing to introduce them to Cassia and see if she'd be willing to let them examine her to determine if she was poisoned, and/or what kind of poison was used. If she's available, or if there's something around here she might've had on her when she got sick. Cas has the ability to identify recently passed and current ailments in human bodies by smell, or identify people by pieces of their bones?? We're hoping he can get an idea of what, if any, poison was used on her, or what sickness she suffered from.
Thread: Thread
Notes: n/a

[abraxasmods]

Retha explains Cassia isn't here. Since the area is locked down, getting to her is not possible.

She appears to have suffered from a common stomach bug, but this is virtually unheard of for the Draconae. Retha will show them bottles of wine and other items she interacted with.

Curiously, while she was found ill in her dressing room a few nights ago, Castiel won't smell or find any traces that point towards a typical illness, suggesting that what affected her must've been magically induced.

[unwings]

Cas will let Retha know what he's reasoned out about it being magically induced and go about looking for items in the dressing room that could be used for spells or enchantment, and try to search for any lingering supernatural energy. He'd also ask Retha where else Cassia went the day she fell ill, what people she was around, or any other public places she might've been before her illness began.

[abraxasmods]

Retha answers that they dined together and that Cassia was in public with many people.

While he won't discover further answers here, he may later find out that another group located a sachet in Cassia's dressing room while someone else was able to confirm that an unknown figure planted this sachet, suggesting this was the source of her illness.