November 15
The outward group comes back into the fold, much to Wren's happiness. They convene over dinner to discuss the day's events.
Wren is traumatized, Sudo Kent explains the evenings learning.
Molly knows of Henry's boys. Need to go to citadel. Wren is traumatized with the events but knows she has to go out again tomorrow. Feeling better being told it will be clean.
Wren asks Molly of their day's events. Todd says opening doors was boring. G and L talk in Chinese so Wren hears about what was in the rooms. She tunes out after they start talking about the Orchard.
Wren makes a mental note to talk to Molly about what she found in the room.
Todd and Molly try to figure out what they will do tomorrow. Molly asks Lanju if there's any places in the Sun corp that they can go that have plants growing. He says no. Mentions that there's places to eat, like good noodles. Discuss whether or not they can see plants at the herbalists house. Mention of a tree and Todd gets excited.
Lanju tells Molly that Guai Sai HAS to stay on the ship tomorrow as he would be needed there. Molly invokes a cone of silence and she talks to him about Guai Sai and his obvious lusting at the idea of the BDSM Citadel. Lanju tells her that he has problems around dirty women. They decide that Guai Sai is going to be babysitting Todd in town instead and Sudo Kent will be going with Wren. Lanju tells Molly that they were told in no uncertain terms to leave any party member alone so he will be with Molly.
Suddenly Kale appears out of the engine room covered in engine grease. Holy shit he's still here! Talks insanely fast and mentions that he made the ship faster. Wren gets upset and sends him back to fix it.
Wren and Molly go talk the plans over in Wren's room. Discuss bribing the Citadel. Molly quells some of Wren's fears about the place.
Wren asks Molly about the room with the papers. Mentions that the records were well laid out but didn't explain what was being moved. 'Cargo' and all that. Mentions that the Suns would know more information, they discuss whether or not they should ask.
Todd pops around the corner and says that they should probably get the money first. Molly asks how long he's been there. He mentions not long and asks for tape and sticks. Molly points to Wren's desk and the drawer that she keeps her tape in while Wren looks confused, and mentions that there's probably pencils as well instead of sticks. Todd bounces off.
All go to bed.
Next day. Todd and Guai Sai got up obnoxiously early, made breakfast. Header outer.
Wren, Sudo Kent and Kale head out to the Citadel.
Molly asks if she can do diagnostics and if that's a thing. She asks Kale and Wren on the com. Wren tries to go back, worried for the ship. Talk to Molly about how to use the diagnostics. Nothing comes up. Molly asks if Wren or Kale have blueprints for the ship. They do not. She goes around measuring rooms, trying to be sneaky. Lanju notices Molly and sees what she is doing, then walks back to the kitchen. He doesn't care.
Todd and Guai Sai get to the Sentients [Editor: Suntian's]. Todd is happy at all of the plants. Medicine lady is looking grumpy. Security lady talks to Guai Sai in Chinese. She looks unpleased. Sun Laoche [Editor: Lao Shi] lets them know to let him know if they want food.
Todd tries to talk to the medicine lady about the plants, she is pretty non responsive.
Scooby gang get to the Citadel. Scary music ensues.
The gang have entered into the Citidel, Sudo Kent speaks to a woman at the entrance, asking if he can see, King Henry. Since he has been here before, he has a relationship with some of the subs, which allows his request to be granted. The gang stops to address whether or not Wren knows what a sub is, to which she replies tentatively, "Of course I do…"
Sudo Kent is not convinced by her proclamation and mutters quietly, "You are the sub."
Music resumes ~rolling, rolling, rolling~
The gang heads off to see Henry. They ascend a a bland stair case and past some rooms with closed doors.
They enter through a door that opens to reveal a sitting room.
They contemplate the cleanliness of the room, Sudo Kent tells them to sit down it's fine. *awkward music plays* Sudo Kent does not sit.
Kale can't find a single mechanical object so dies in a chair of boredom.
A man, King Henry, resembling a cheerful elf enters into the room. Sudo Kent is the one who recognizes him, * "All Men Are Pigs" blasts as King Henry walks into the room in slow motion, tossing his hair back as he struts into the centre of the gang.
His hair looks like a fringe on a lamp.
"Well hello again" To Sudo Kent, who greets him back.
He immediately zones in on Wren, asking her what kind of tea she would like before performing a form of "Bend and Snap" only it's the "Flex and Snap" and a lovely young fellow arrives with the Oolong [actually arrives and is told to go get Oolong for the lady].
Kale is melting into the chair out of boredom.
Despite their first impressions he's not terribly flamboyant.
"What's your name my darling?" To Wren, who introduces herself and Kale.
He turns to Sudo Kent, assuming based on his present company he is not here for personal reasons. Hearing that they are seeking to find a person, the King turns to Wren intrigued, asking who they are looking for.
"Stay calm Wren, it will be fine." Comes the whisper of Molly in Wren's ear.
Wren does not make it known that there is a little Molly voice in her ear. She says that they are looking for "John Snow". The King asks if she can describe him at all, as "I just meet so many men in this profession."
"He might have gone by Field Hog [Editor: Feoil Tog]…" Sudo Kent says quietly to the King.
"Might he have? Is that the word on the street?" The King purrs. He turns to Wren. "You both seem to have different information, do you my dear know what Field Hog [Feoil Tog] means?" Wren is silent. "Oh my, that is wonderful.' Says the King, his interest becoming more intense. "Very interesting, so you are new with the Sun's, and you, Sudo Kent, are helping them…. So, how many of yous does it take to show them around?"
"As you can see its just me, because they only came looking for information." Sudo Kent is keeping his calm.
The King becomes loud again, turning his attention to Wren to gossip. "Why are you looking for this man? He's a terrible man. I heard he had a wife."
Molly in Wren's ear "You don't know. You don't know. You don't know"
"I heard he and his wife had a place back in [some] Backwater?"
"I DON'T KNOW" yelps Wren.
The King slides across the room and seizes her hands. "Wren, if we are going to find this terrible man, I need you to give me some details about him."
"You don't know anything Wren!" Hushes Molly, not knowing how near the King is to Wren now.
Roll made on Luck and Intuition (Molly) A 3 is rolled. Molly passes.
The King does not hear Molly which is GOOD.
"I need you to help me my dear, do think of his poor wife. If we are going to find this man, we will need some details about him" Says the King.
"You can tell him about what we learned yesterday but nothing else!" Molly snaps.
"He frequents the Orchard, Oh and Rebecca, he had a … mistress? A Rebecca who lives here and is concerned about his whereabouts. She was pretty convinced he was going to live with her."
"Maybe he went to see his wife to break up with her. What do you think Sudo?"
"I don't know anything."
"That's a shame, we could have used that information. [King pauses, turns back to Wren] He was a whore working for me. Strictly speaking, the Citidal does not deal with whores. But some slip through the cracks and we try to be hospitable. I couldn't say where he is, but if you could give me your contact information, then, if I heard from one of my boys, I could let you know."
Sudo Kent asks now, "Have YOU heard from any of your contacts? Perhaps Turonac [Editor: Tioranach] or Shanae [Editor: Ceannai]?"
"Ah yes they would be good to speak too."
"Are they here?"
"One may be, the other is on and off planet a lot."
Kale snaps from boredom and barks from the chair "Listen! If we bribe you will this go faster? Wren! We brought money right? You have the ship's money?" his gaze fixed on her, his eyes deadened with boredom.
The King is loosing his mind at how hilarious this conversation has become.
"Wreeeeen! Give him the money! There are no machines here, the tea is NEVER coming back. Sir! Can we just give you money? How much money do we need to give you to find out what happened to the John Snow guy, who ever her is."
Kale yells mostly to the room, but a little bit at the King.
"Ah, what a good point…. about the TEA. Timothy my sweet, Oolong for the lady!" Timothy brings the tea and performs a gliding flounce from the room, throwing in a pirouette as he flights from the door way.
King: "Sudo my young boy, you didn't say you'd brought gifts!"
"Well… what information can you give them?" Asked Sudo Kent.
"How much money have you brought, my darling little bird?" Purrs the King.
"We brought the money and uh yeah credits." Wren seems awkward.
Sudo Kent inquires, "What is it you want?" he knows that the King doesn't care about money. The tea and the birds are all just wastes of the gangs time and he knows this.
"I'm a simple man Sudo, I just want to live to see tomorrow. I'd like to be sure of my immortality. Yes, that would be nice."
"You will… who is threatening you?" Sudo Kent asks.
"No one."
"Ah that is good… why are you worried about your mortality?"
The King says that the Citadel is like his home; home is like mortality and he does not wish for anything to change.
"Is there anyone we can talk to to find out about John Snow?" Asks Wren.
"No one you'd like to talk to." The King says to her with a smirk
"Anyone Sudo Kent can talk to?" She deflects. Wren earns a plot point.
"Sudo, I would ask at the Pelican. I am sure you will know where to find it."
"I know it." Sudo Kent replies abruptly.
GM takes a moment to be pleased with herself. [Editor: Shush, you!]
"I am not going there" says Wren.
King: "You can stay here dear, can't she Sudo?"
"DO NOT STAY." Molly barks, dropping the measuring tape back in the ship.
"I would prefer she comes with us, since she is the one who is looking for him." Says Sudo Kent.
Kale is sitting in the chair, turning the little handle on a music box that the King has given him.
The conversation of the group comes up, which the King zones in on, "There is a group of you looking for the group and they sent YOU my dear?" He asks Wren.
"They figured they wouldn't need more then one person coming to gather intel." Mutters Sudo Kent.
Kind: "I assume they are taking good care of Sudo's friends as well. Perhaps we could all meet and speak face to face!"
"We can inquire with the group but Wren cannot speak for them. But we can inquire."
King: "Ah yes, alright. It is good to have friends."
Sudo: "King before we go, where is Turonac [Tioranach]?"
King: "I don't think you want to speak to him on this matter. As a friend, I would advise you not to seek him out."
"Is there anyone at the Pelican we can speak to then?" Sudo Kent says.
King: "Well, no but I am told that Snow's taken to the… domesticated… Look for collars. But you should be off. Wren, my dear are you sure you are not going to stay?"
"Well, I think I should go with them." Wren says, Molly muttering away in her ear.
Sudo: "Thank you for your time King. Kale give the music box back to him."
Kale passes the box back and the group leaves the room.
The group, having now left the Citadel and are walking to the Pelican having a conversation to sort out the information the King has given them and prepare their next plan of action.
"Who is T? Why should we go to him?" Molly asks Sudo Kent
"He is someone who might have information. But with the King saying we shouldn't go there, I would advise we don't go or we might upset the Flannagens. [Editor: Flanagans]
The team then decides to forgo and continue to the Pelican.
"The interest in the wife seemed very particular." Molly says. "I think he knows more then what he is letting on. I think he might be trying to gain black mail."
"I have no doubt he knows more then he was telling us." Confirms Sudo Kent.
The King would only hire a whore due to pressures from higher up. Playing politics if you like. Another reason might be that a whore from the Pelican might train up to move up the ranks to join the Citadel. The third option is, sometimes becoming a whore is simply a punishment for… transgressions.
The gang arrives at the Pelican, the wooden sign portrays a disheveled Pelican with a huge engorged throat and it's beak just hanging open. Scott Joplin's "The Entertainer" pours from the building.
As they enter, they cringe, feeling like they can almost taste the dirt. The women are crusty, moist and sometimes bruised.
"You will be fine, just don't touch anything Wren." Murmers Molly, taking another measurement back on the ship.
"You couldn't pay me to touch anything in here" whimpers Wren.
Wren clings to Kale for moral support. The boredom of Kale is uncanny, he glances at the piano, the only real mechanical thing in the building shaking his head. "Grounders."
A troll of a bouncer wanders over to him. "If you stay you need to buy."
So the gang wander to the bar as the bartender spits into a glance and rubs it clean with his grimy hands.
"Kale… would like a drink" says Sudo Kent.
"What do you want?" the man growls,
"Whatever is on tap."
The creature turns the tap and a thick, disgusting fluid explodes into the gross cup. He shoves the cup to kale who looks grimly at it. "Do you have a pencil and napkin?" The bartender grunts and hands it to him. kale takes a seat and begins drawing engine schematics, going quiet.
Sudo Kent addresses the bartender. "Is there anyone with a collar here?"
"What? Bo Peep? She is not up at this hour, what the hell is wrong with you?" the man grunts.
"Is anyone else up at this time of day?" asks Sudo Kent
The man glares and gestures to the room of disgusting creatures. He then glares at Wren, looking her up and down before spitting into another cup.
Sudo Kent walks up to the barkeeper, offering him a 30c bride.
"What is this for?" growls the man.
Kale is sitting, doodling away at the napkin. Two beers sitting in frame. One slides out of frame and Sudo Kent takes a disgusted sip before putting it back down.
"We are looking to speak to someone about John Snow?"
"John Snow, fuck that guy-"
"If you wish" interjects Sudo Kent.
The bartender glares at him before continuing to speak " That guy is an asshole. He tried to earn his tab here by trading strange. He drank more then he put out. He never paid his tab. He got traded to the Henry Boys. He used to hang with Bo peep but like I said, she's asleep."
"Did you sell him to Henry's Boys?"
"No. I don't deal in that shit." Growled the bartender.
"Who did then?" Molly asks.
"There are many fingers in the pie down here. I don't know. All I know is he didn't pay the tab."
"When can we speak to Bo Peep?" Sudo Kent asks the Bartender. He tells them 4 hours.
Sudo Kent turns to the others, "What do you want to do?"
They have a conversation about the Flannegans, deciding not to pursue looking for them.
Wren yells to Kale, "Come on Kale we are leaving. We will come back when Bo Peep comes back."
"Sex!" Bertha finds the group. She is tripping over herself with how drunk she is. "You! You and your shit ass friends. Back from yesterday are you?" She throws her arm around Wren. Stinking with filth.
Wren's flashbacks are triggered. She has to roll the dice.
She freezes up, going static.
Sudo Kent turns to Kale, "What is wrong with her?"
A high pitch blue screen noise leaves Wren, causing molly to tap the walkie talkie, wondering if it's feedback.
"Sudo Kent get her off Wren now!"
Sudo Kent speaks to Bertha "Come gives Kale a hug…" He redirects her easily to Kale.
Sudo Kent makes a roll to pick up Wren and carry her back to the ship.
Molly keeps speaking to Wren, trying to talk her down.
Unfortunatly a bouncer seems Kale kind of pushing Bertha around while Sudo Kent is trying to pick up Wren. "What's going on here!?" He shakes Kale.
Kale is startled. "We were just leaving" Sudo Kent says.
"Damn right you are. Get out."
Sudo Kent rolls to pick up Wren. Rolls a 1. He does not pick up Wren.
The group leaves the Pelican to jeers from the room.
Meanwhile Todd and Gwyatzi [Editor: Gwaizai].
Todd has bought noodles. Small clipping of tree.
Todd: "Do you know anywhere fun we could go?"
Gwaizai: 'I know a place."
Todd: "Oh really would it be fun?"
Gwaizai: "It could be fun. Yes. We could meet up with your friends…. and see if they are done."
Todd: "Oh well… Molly said I shouldn't go with them, which is why we are here."
Gwaizai: "Ok we should go back to the ship."
Todd rolls for perception. Rolls a 3, notices a woman walk walking to the bar. She shows no interest in us.
Gwyatzi [Gwaizai] sees a slutty, not fully dressed woman. After a few moments he wanders over to her.
Todd thinks of following but a man approaches him. Wants to talk about plants, he is totally enraptured. They talk about figs. Todd is intrigued. He asks Todd if he's had fruit before. Todd mentions he had some on this planet yes. The man gets upset that Todd wouldn't know better than to not eat the plants on this planet and he leaves to talk to other Chinese people.
Todd looks over and see that Gwyatzi [Gwaizai] is gone, and so is the woman. Todd is sad. He tries to eavesdrop into a conversation but as he doesn't know Chinese he learns nothing. Todd wanders around to see if he can find Gwyatzi. Nothing. Yijir [Editor: Yijer] finds Todd and wonders where Gwyatzi is and Todd mentions that a woman came in and she goes on a rampage to find him as she knows where he is. Todd gets pushed down the hallway from all of the exiting people and gets back into the common room. He goes and sits down.
An arm comes around his waist and his mouth and he is picked up and taken out of the door and put into a van. Todd tries to scream but nothing happens. He tries to kick but he only hits a doorjamb. It is unharmed. Todd drops his plant.
He is reassured by the man kidnapping him that he won't be harmed.
There is another person in the back of the van who holds Todd's feet down. Not forced but firmly held. Todd notices the man who kidnapped him is the same man who talked to him about plants.
Molly finds that there are no fewer then 5 hidden areas in the ship. One in the cargo bay, nothing special. 2 smaller and in less obvious places, by the locked doors. Little compartments for smaller things. Not files but not crates. None near the office. One has scary looking weapons in it, it's not fully but there are just some in there. Molly doesn't know how to use them. There is another small space in Kai's original room (4) it has small leather bags inside but there are no bird symbols inside them. There are a lot of them. Creepy. Fifth space is on the deck, nothing special.
The gang arrives back at the ship.
Wren: "Mollllllllly I don't want to do this anymore."
Molly: "Kale, i've got a project for you. Would you like to make a blueprint of the ship?"
Cale: "Can I start in the engine room?"
Molly: "Sure…."
Kale leaves abruptly, not hearing Wren's wails.
Molly: "You guys had a fun time…"
"I don't think Kale will be going back there anytime."
A conversation ensures where Molly growls at the all, saying NONE of them can go back there.
Molly: "Someone has to go back there tonight, but it can't be any of you can it?"
"Well you weren't there." Wren says to Molly
Molly: "I guess I will be tonight. Wren you bath is ready."
Wren runs from the room.
Molly: "Lazy Pig, would you come with me tonight?"
Lanju: "Yes that's fine."
Molly: "Can you just like, stay quiet…"
Lanju: "Yes it's fine… I don't touch the stuff… " He mutters to Molly, making a meaningful glance at Sudo Kent.
A conversation ensures about Kale. "He reminds me of Gwyatzi" says Lazy Pig.
Sudo Kent: "Yeah except he starts a fight when he's startled."
Molly: "Yeah tell me about that. Would any normal person accept a hug from Bertha without freaking out!?"
Lazy Pig yells now, breaking into the conversation, ending the back and forth between Molly and Sudo Kent.
Lazy Pig suggests Molly get in contact with Gwyatzi to find out where they are at. There is nothing but loud yelling on the other end. Then Gwyatzi's voice comes through. "It's fine now. Everything is fine."
'Where is Todd?"
"He's downstairs."
"Well meet up with him."
"I will do that as soon as possible."
'What did you do?!"
"…………………………….. Nothing. Listen I have to go. Bye."
A few moments later, Gwyatzi comes back in on the link.
"Hello. The small child is gone. There is a broken plant on the ground and Uh here I am giving you over to someone else." While Molly yells loudly in panic.
Stern sounding woman: "Hello. We believe the child has been taken by someone other then the Flannagens. We believe he will be returned soon and will not be harmed. We are dealing with our internal matters." And the phone goes dead.
Notes taken by Ash and Seb. Edits on spelling by GM.
