Quests & Challenges

"Oh, my, Uru'kaet!" Lenore exclaims with the same enthusiasm and fondness to her tone. "I'm delighted you were able to make it!" She tilts her head to one side and places a paw against the side without the mask, all gleaming claws and menace in glittering eyes to contrast the bright smile. "-- And if you think about it, weren't you practically asking for it with how much you were showing off your style of magic over the week? It would do no good to let there be no surprises, you know, especially for someone who did so much of the planning~"

... She doesn't even bother lowering her voice for that last part.

"Alecinne was so nervous, too, my, my. After he had so much to contribute, too. I'm sure he'll be at ease to have another familiar face around." Her tone remains what certainly sounds like genuinely fond. And why wouldn't she be? These two contributed so much to the hall they're standing in today! Of course she should appreciate them for what they've done!

Two young detectives are here ready to investigate! [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/98717601][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/350/987177/98717601_350.png[/img][/url] Haunt immediately bounds over to Lenore, asking her the burning question that has been on his mind. "These other dragons, the aethers, undertide, and pearlcatcher! Were they at the ball when the murder happened? Do you have a list of the guests that were in attendance?" [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/91169501][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/350/911696/91169501_350.png[/img][/url] Daphne rushes behind him and shushes him. "Sorry about my sidekick," she apologizes awkwardly. "We don't want to offend any of the others, but if they [i]were[/i] there then they definitely could be suspects... we shouldn't rule anyone out right away." (I'm open to interactions but probably won't be instigating any because anxious;;)

The masquerade... Afflatus remembered attending the masquerade. She rubs her head, trying to push the fogginess out of it. Dark red strands of hair fall in front of her eyes and she goes to push them back when her claws clink against her butterfly mask. She looks down and around slowly; her masquerade outfit was just as she remembered. How did she get here? What was happening?

She cautiously looks around, taking in the scene. Some things... were... different. Wrong? She couldn't remember. She sat down at a familiar seat where she had spent that fated night, taking the time to catalogue all the things she could remember, and all the things she couldn't. The pearlcatcher and the rambunctious aethers and undertide-- were they there that night? She begins making a list of discrepancies on a napkin. Was there anything else unusual or different from that night?

[center][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/91168778][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/350/911688/91168778_350.png[/img][/url] [font=spectral][size=4]Black tallow candles surround Daphnes like unmarked grave markers as she floats beneath the canopy, trailing plumes of bitter-smelling smoke in her wake. The flame lights find no reflection upon her hide, and yet do not pass through her, either. She is most comfortable up here, where the endless ceiling calls to her without a single sound. In contrast, the dragons below stir up noise like so much dust from the floor. Their eyes gleam in turn with surprise, terror, and, for some, a mawkish glee--the kind born from the interruption of daily, ritualistic boredom. At their feet lies a chandelier with its skirt of crystals sprayed across the floor. Below pools a wet darkness. Finally. Daphnes' hide shudders hungrily as they gaze down at the puddle of void, fragrant with the smell of secrets. The whole manor reeks of secrets, actually, but none so pungent as the smell wafting from the puddle. Daphnes tracks the scent from the puddle to the chandelier, then [b]to the place where it once hung beside its partner.[/b] (Simple terms: Daphnes would like to investigate the place where the fallen chandelier had hung to check for tampering, residue, etc). Another dragon (Uru'kaet, Daphnes hears her being called) has flown up to inspect the intact partner of the chandelier. Daphnes makes a note to speak to her of her findings, then opens their Eye and prepares to See.[/font] [/center]

[url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/92146439][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/coliseum/portraits/921465/92146439.png[/img][/url] Rosin likes talking. In fact, Rosin [i]specializes[/i] in talking to people, getting what they want out of them without ruffling a single (metaphorical) feather. But that's their day job, and this is - well, murder aside - supposed to be a bit of fun. So they stay back and let everyone else break the ice. [b]Rosin would like to look at the candles illuminating the hallway.[/b]

@Symphony Of Despair

I /should/ be caught up on responses. Day 2 investigations are now available! The master post on the front page has been updated with the current state of what you all have available.

Ignoring the Aethers for the moment, Vice slipped between the group and over to the Pearlcatcher in the corner.

"Excuse me, sir? I couldn't help but notice how.... Uhm, inconspicuous you are being? Given your dress and unique position at this party, I would presume it is intentional, but my instincts are hardly flawless. May I have a name and reason for being here?"

For All

Once Fye investigated everything, she decided to meet up with the other dragons. "Hey guys!", she greets them happily. "Anyone any ideas on what happened? I - for myself - could find a puddle of dark purple liquid. It's thick and viscous and right under the chandelier, coating much of the bottom and even some of the side where the chandelier toppled over upon hitting the floor.
Beside, i could find out that the liquid is actually still liquid, not dry. It think it is something else than blood, because blood would be dry by now.
It is kind of goopy and traces of a purple trail are leading towards the side of the dance floor that are near the doors. Somehow reminds me of the goop shadow dragons have,... but of course i'm not sure about that! Anyone else something useful?"

________
For Myrrh

After her meeting with the others, the Wildclaw continues to investigate. She has a lead and for sure she'll use that one! Slowly and carefully, on all fours, she's back at the chandelier and now following the trails of said purple goop towards the doors. Maybe there are some more hints on the way the murder used.

following the goopy trail =D

[columns][url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=91168778][img]http://flightrising.com/rendern/coliseum/portraits/911688/91168778.png[/img][/url][nextcol] [size=7][Font=spectral][b]Daphnes (she/they) | Day 2[/b][/font][/size][/columns] [font=spectral][size=4]There, [b]right where the fallen chandelier had once hung, was a hole; and, neatly bisecting the hole, was a scar. Obscured by the darkness, it would’ve been nigh on impossible to see unless someone were looking straight at it[/b], or—in Daphnes’ case—using enhanced senses to perceive it. The power from Daphnes’ Eye throws the cut into bloody red contrast against the dark wood, and the iron scent of the hidden clings densely to it. Their Eye tracks where [b]the line stretches just a bit longer in one direction[/b]. ——————————————————————————————————————————— [b][u]For Fye and Myrrh[/u][/b] [Clarification request for Myrrh - does the longer side of the cut across the hole point in the same direction as the trail of goop Fye is following? Also how long is the cut - just enough to cut the chandelier, or like there was a long swipe across the ceiling?) Daphnes’s head fins flicker as she catches Fye’s exclamation regarding the pool of void. She looks longingly for a moment towards the ground where the dark liquid teems with more secrets, but leaves it be; it would not do to be too distracted, and she is not so lacking as to steal another dragon’s meal from under their noses (note: Daphnes doesn’t eat shadow gloop to be clear, she is nourished by secrets and mysteries haha). Still… “I would very much like to see what you find along this trail of shadows,” Daphnes whispers into Fye’s mind. “I do wonder if it shall lead to the very same thing I am pursuing, in the direction I follow.” [b][u]For all[/u][/b] “A cut scars the wood, about the void where a light once hung,” Daphnes hisses, projecting the words into the minds of all she can see present in the room. “The fixture of light untethered by a sharp implement, the scar longer on one side than the other. [b]I shall pursue the direction of its longest point[/b].” [Daphnes would like to follow where the longest side of the line leads off to and see if any more clues to indicate a trail in that direction] For [b][u]Uru’kaet[/u][/b] Before Daphnes departs, they drift over to where Uru’kaet hovers, examining the intact chandelier. “Friend,” they greet, never seeming to open their mouth. “The light’s twin has been cut down at the base by a sharp blow. May I ask what you have uncovered about the intact survivor?” ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pings totally ok!

[url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/95660342][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/956604/95660342p.png[/img][/url] Oh. Excellent. Uru'kaet is back as well. He should have expected as much. The words exchanged between her and Lenore go unheard, but nevertheless he makes a note not to stand between the two of them in future. And... yes, he's being far too obvious, but at the same time there's been a [i]murder[/i]. He is not in the business of getting involved with murders! Even so. He does not intend to follow the murder victim into the grave. He draws himself straighter, forces his trembling wings still. "Yes, well-met. So glad to hear that you have found my ideas useful, Uru'kaet Skydancer. Wonderful to hear you've had success entering the maze market, there is always such demand." Professionalism first, and then... As he has always done, he will simply make himself too useful to be worth killing. [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/92942169][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/929422/92942169p.png[/img][/url] "Thank you, Lady Lenore. As always, I shall take your words with a grain... of sugar." Lovely inclines her head politely. She takes in the slowly assembling dragons, more than earlier. Some observing, some speaking with the frivolous group of Aethers, some looking lost and frightened. Poor souls. Some eager to help, throwing themselves into the investigation as if it is all some game... which brings to mind one of the suggestions that had been made, back during the party planning, around the time she had shown up to help... "Interesting." She approaches the area near the fallen chandelier, where Fye had been investigating. After hearing about the purple liquid that is not exactly blood and that there is a trail leading toward the door, she pauses thoughtfully. She speaks mainly to Fye, but in a way that most of the surrounding observers would be able to hear. "It's very interesting that this liquid is still wet, as the Lady Lenore emphasized the age of the crime scene: [b]that there is no body to examine, that any body left all this time would have rotted down to bones[/b]. Whatever we saw that night has clearly been removed. I am still interested in ascertaining the identity of the victim, and perhaps our young friends over there may find some success if they acquire the guest list. "That said, the lady herself didn't seem concerned with the victim's identity. This suggests to me one of two things. One possibility: The killer's reason for killing has nothing to do with the victim. Bloodthirst? Boredom? A warning, or a declaration of war? It seems too early to say, but I would advise caution. "The second? That we should not expect easy answers from our host, and that we should not always trust what we see." She rocks back on her haunches, idly fixing a bow that had come ever so slightly out of place. "Of course, I'm just a silly little Snapper, and perhaps I'm on the wrong track entirely. Heehee! Perhaps someone else will have some more helpful information to share?" -- ooc: not investigating anything just yet, but wanted to share my info!