Masquerade {Formerly The Broccoli Gang}

[ashdenej]

The Reaper's wise judgement is interrupted by yet another barrel roll, this time instigated by the usually trustworthy Waiter.



His words are lost in the rapid spinning of the Virtue, which throws you all into disarray. The Reaper appears to be getting angry.

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Hooray! That completes the concept art of the Broccoli Gang, I think. Brilliant work, as ever, Zephyrkit!

Also YES that blimp is spinning. Look at the sky! CLEARLY it is spinning. CLEARLY.

[LinaLove]

Gyahaha, oh dear ansem that is HILARIOUS. X3

Sursus: Enjoy the ride like a child at an amusement park ==>
and/or
Reaper: Be cross about the whole affair ==>

[ashdenej]

The Reaper's anger manifests itself - tendrils of black smoke curl from his pipe, stilling the ship's wheel. You all tumble to the newly-righted floor, possessions scattering everywhere.



You realize that your glasses are missing.

[LinaLove]

Sursus: Turn to look at the waiter who, without your glasses, looks very much like a walrus...then ask why there's a walrus aboard the ship ==>

[ashdenej]

The only WALRUS-LIKE person who you've ever seen was a MOBSTER, who went by the name of KING PRAWN. You doubt that you'll ever see anything more of him, though. It's just incredibly unlikely!

Regardless, you blearily turn to the Waiter and pat his mask, looking for your spectacles. The others look at you strangely, but Waiter merely rolls over slowly, without making a sound. Gianna worriedly comes to your side, to check if he needs her expert assistance - but he must be more resilient than he looks, as it just appears that he's gone to sleep.

The first words on Gianna's lips are "severe concussion", and then a meaningless stream of medical terminology. The Reaper appears by her side, as worried as a cowled figure can be - he notes the faint spidery cracks that run across the Waiter's mask. The Pastor, on the other hand, appears to have snuck off.

[LinaLove]

Sursus: Continue on your spectacle hunt, just don't touch the steering wheel ==>
and/or
Gianna: Tend to the Waiter ==>

[ashdenej]

Your questing hands locate your glasses - they're miraculously unharmed - and you turn back to the anxious pair of people, who've kneeled down onto the floor in order to tend to the Waiter. He's in worse shape than it first appeared, but the Reaper is insistent that his mask should not be removed. Gianna acquiesces, and proceeds to do her best with the resources she has.

Some time later, a pale Gianna turns to you and asks your help in moving the Waiter to the infirmary. His prospects don't look good.

The Reaper clicks his fingers before you can agree, wrapping the Waiter in black fire, which disappears. Before Gianna can react in outrage, he assures her that he's simply transported the Waiter quickly. Gianna pales further.

[Siranae]

Gianna: Ask where he transported the Waiter.

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...Please be the infirmary.

What have I done?

[LinaLove]

Sursus: Return to the conversation, you're curious about the Waiter's fate as well ==>

[ashdenej]

As you go back to the two, Gianna brushes past you violently, looking distraught - then she turns back and grabs your wrist. You're pulled along through the bowels of the zeppelin, flailing your gangly limbs behind you.

Gianna's sheath dress isn't the best clothing to run in, however. She trips up as often as she moves forwards, slowing your progress considerably.

By the time you arrive at the infirmary, the Reaper and Banker are already there. Upon catching sight of Gianna's exhausted and angry expression, he shrugs, saying that he could have done the same for you as well, except that you both ran off. Casting the matter aside for the moment, she rushes to the bed in which the Waiter is safely interred.

[LinaLove]

Gianna: Status update on the Waiter's condition ==>

[The Long Man]

Waiter: Die in an overly tragic fashion.

[ashdenej]

You cannot be the WAITER, because you are obviously the PASTOR!

Having wandered the halls, following the two "guests" on this blimp, you've picked up traces of a new person - the one brought aboard by the Painter, in his miraculous survival. Now that all of those who would interfere are safely occupied tending to your comrade, you can dispose of yet another unfortunate pest.

Whilst she was more elusive than anticipated, you track her down to a little hall near the top of the gondola. Turning, despite your silence steps, a slight smile curves her mouth. She knows you're there, and she's ready.

[LinaLove]

Pastor: Prepare for confrontation, size up the opposition ==>

[artisticWarrior]

>Pastor: Proceed to have a dance off.

[ashdenej]

You proceed to STRIKE A POSE - a battle pose, that is. Drawing your broadsword from beneath your robe, you swish at the air in a menacing and entirely pointless manner, as it fails to intimidate the woman without any eyes. Deciding to take the initiative, a sweeping slice beheads Big M. Or, at least, it would have... if she hadn't run away whilst you were winding up your attack.

Stupid unobliging victims.

Even after being so rude as to dodge your attack, she adds injury to insult by firing at you from the hip. You're hit with one of her needle-bullets, and proceed to fall into a dreamless - yet somehow enraged - sleep.

The PASTOR is having a snooze.

[LinaLove]

Don:...what on earth are you up to now?? ==>

[ashdenej]

You're the DON, and you're watching one of the most heartbreaking things you've ever seen.

Gianna is openly weeping, whilst the Doctor is taking over to give her a break from attempting to save their patient. The Painter is propped up on his bed, giving feeble encouragement to the unconscious Waiter - the Reaper looms next to you, the Butcher and the Banker, willing him to survive.

You are all united in this rather prosaic show of harmony. Big M slips in from the hallway, looking marginally flustered, and hurries to your side, but you slip off as soon as she is distracted.

The Waiter looks like he's not going to live through the day.

[LinaLove]

Don: Pay your respects to the Waiter (if you have any for him that is) then find a way to check on that magnificent walrus statue from earlier ==>

[ashdenej]

You are now the BRIDGE OF THE VIRTUE. You're pretty bored - it was exciting in here earlier, what with all the battling and drama - but now it's gone quiet. You think that you might be representative of the ARTIST AND AUTHOR'S WORK on the next few panels, which are sure to rip your sobbing heart from your chest and take it to a sad film. They'll probably also be better worded and more prosey than that sentence.

[LinaLove]

Brdidge of the Virtue: Carry on ==>

[ashdenej]

...Who's this? A snooper, certainly. Perhaps you should alert somebody.

In fact, that's exactly what you'd do, if you had any means of communication at all. But you don't. Because you're a room.

[Apathy]

>Of course you do, don't be silly. Make an effort to be as difficult to navigate as possible. Nobody's getting through here without tripping all over the place on your watch. You are a LOYAL INANIMATE OBJECT and it is your DUTY to SERVE your KEEPERS WELL.

[ashdenej]

The gentleman seems to sense your malintent - but you shall prevail. Exerting your non-existant systems, you try to send out a feeble signal that there is an intruder on board. Perhaps he doesn't like the SLIGHT JIGGLING you're doing, either? It's really making him MILDLY IRRITATED, you can tell.

Should I despolier these?

[Doorhandle]

This adventure is now one of my favorites!

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And I find it hilarious, but I'm not sure how much you want it to be taken seriously.

>Don: Search for clues, and secret plans.
>Room: Jiggle more.