VAU: The Tale of Ivana Hoompalotte - Game Thread

[Cromenon]

Carlos stared at Duality during his show, silent, seated, arms and legs crossed, his face still. When he finished he focused his attention on Isaac's speech.

When he spoke, his voice was serious, without a hint of emotion:
"You are saying that the only three people that you trust are The Masque," he tilted his head towards her, "Erik and Abel. Considering that she is the only one alive, it would seem that your reasoning would lead you to vote the same way as her did, yet you do not." He paused for a moment and continued "You also said that you are, and have been, genuinely scared of the multiple personalities inside the jester's body."

He made a dramatic pause in his speech:
"Yet... when it comes to casting the vote, you do cast it against me. For what reason?" He stared at him intently. "Please, at least tell me, because honestly I don't know."

He adressed Duality:
"So, you think that The Masque and me are allies, yet I could say the same of you and Isaac, or Ysolda."

And he adressed the crowd:
"It is difficult for me to understand the reasons of Ysolda and Isaac's votes against myself, if in the last case there are any. Only Alessandro has to speak yet. His vote could well unbalance this tie."

Now, turning to the Doctor:
"I will not try to bribe you, doctor, as our fellow seems to wish... however, I will leave you this thought:" he spoke to the Doctor but his voice could be heard by all the crowd:


"When today I cast my vote, I did it knowing what I was doing, as I said. I did it, knowing that, given a tie between me and Duality, I would not be able to change it to unbalance the tie..." He pointed at Duality "Not like this man, who did exactly this in order to save his skin yesterday. Do you remember? At the last moment he withdrew his vote against Lorenzo and voted against Kristof, and with what result?" He let the implications hang in the air.

He finished, adressing Isaac
"I do remember that when Duality did this, you were very surprised..."


[Edited due to: spelling]

 

[Feast4Crows]

"I agree that I should make my vote count. I won't blame you for trying to cut a deal to save your skin, Duality. That is a trait common to both the living and the Undead, as we have seen. However, I cannot take the offer you've made. If you are being true and I vote against Carlos and he turns out to be human, then by killing you in the morning, we lessen our numbers even more. If you are one of these monsters and I vote against Carlos, then it's likely I will be waking up dead anyhow. I actually like living."

The doctor pours himself another brandy and drains it.

"I withdraw my vote against, Ysolda, not because I believe her innocent, but because I need to use my vote to the best of my ability. Duality, I vote against you because I believe your fractured personality has allowed you to hide in plain sight."

Withdraw vote against Ysolda - Zephyr

Vote: Duality - Raizi

 

[Raizi]

"I think that settles it then. I don't believe Alessandro is about to come back before the vote. So it's my four against Carlos' three votes. I hope you find your sleep light after this, Doctor. If my guess is correct, after my death you might feel somewhat... haunted."

Duality takes the a full bottle of brandy and goes to sit at the end of the staircase. He pops open the cork and proceeds to drink straight from the bottle. Tears streaming from his eyes. His hands are trembling visibly. After a few gulps, Duality turns towards the crowd once again.

"I think I ought to break the news about the vote to the other passengers before our hostess appears. If you'll excuse me, I will not be available for the rest of the evening. There will be no encore. I thank you for your patience and forgive you your ignorance."

After that Duality proceeds to his own chambers and closes the door. For the first time the sounds of moving furniture can be heard from Duality's room.

 

[Duke Danse Macabre]

*Holding his head in his hands he sighs deeply, doubt gnawing at the corners of his mind*

This is not right....
No man... or Woman should have to make the choice for another to die.
Had it been a fight or we had not the time to at least know one another I think I could stomach that, but this.... Not this. *Eyes glistening staring intently at the floor trying to hold back any further emotion*
I'm meant to be a solider, looks like I'm turning into an old softy.
I left the army because of losing so many friends, I walked the length of the empire god knows how many times to find employment just so I could be with my family and now I find myself almost in tears over a jester.... *shaking his head*

Carlos....
I have no idea how you can be so god damned emotionless and cold when in a place like this.
I can't trust a man like that, far to close to a politician for my liking. *Laughing a dry mirthless chuckle*
But no, I don't think any person should be able to be so callous with life, I even disagree with the doctor on that but at least he has the reasons of his profession, you do not.

This just may be a fool having others tug on his heart strings and it could cause me my life before the day is done but at least I will die with my humanity before I join the friends I have lost over the years.

Withdraw vote against: Raizi VAU: Duality

Vote: Cromenon VAU: Carlos Rey

 

[Bishop]

[mod]This thread should be locked, as it's after 2100 in London... [/mod]

 

[Disciple of Nagash]

Again the night feel without Ivana's appearance...and considering what happened the previous night the remaining people became understandably nervous. Yet there was nothing they could do as the strange sleep came over them.

A strange sucking sound woke them, and as they blearily opened their eyes, they saw the stunningly naked form of Wilhelmina wrapped around Carlos. The man was plainly dead, a blood dribbling from his neck. A crimson spread across Wilhelmina's face as she saw her audience,

"The mistress did say you wanted him to die, so I thought I might as well send him out with a bang." Her smile grew more as she stood up, revealing that she had actually been copulating with Carlos before she had ripped out his throat.

"He did seem to enjoy it....at least more than the poor doctor. The mistresses friends thought it would be fun to have a game with him." They where she pointed and saw the prostrate form of Dr. Viktor von Ungehuer against he wall. To his left a bloody scalpel laid on the floor but what drew the eye was the way his stomach and intestines were on the floor in front of him, his own hands deep inside his body thought a surgical slice.

"He was given such a fair chance as well. The scarab was inserted up.....well his bum." Wilhelmina giggled, "he was told that the vampires were controlling it and directing it to his brain. If he could cut it out of himself before it got there, he would be healed. He never even got close."

As if to rub it in further, all the wall next to him the mocking words were written in the Doctor's blood: Physician, heal thy self

"Wilhelmina darling?" Ivana's voice cooed from somewhere, "come along darling....I have an urge you need to satisfy....." At the sound of her mistresses voice Wilhemia vaulted from Carlos, spraying various body fluids everywhere. A second later she was a blur as her newly vampiric body took off in search of Ivana.

[mod]Carlos is dead, voted to death. He was human
Dr. Viktor von Ungehuer is also dead and was also human......

The end is drawing near....[/mod]

 

[Malochai]

Alessandro stared around him, clearly feeling drained, emotionally and physically. He immediately stood up, shaking, and fell back to his seat. Weeping slightly, he looked at the remaining people.

"I'm ... I'm sorry for my ... Intellectual absence yesterday. This is all ... Too much, I'm afraid. I shall try to do my best to help figure out who these remaining creatures are, but ... I'm not sure how much use I'll be ... "

 

[Zephyr]

Ysolda lets herself fall into one of the chairs, she looks exhausted despite the strange sleep that overcomes everybody every night.

"Listen everyone if...if I happen to end up like Wilhelmina I expect those able to do so to drive a stake through my heart. Dying is horrible enough but the thought of being damned forever, enthralled even, I cannot bear."

She stares blankly at the other wall, trying very hard not too look at the remains. She mutters under her breath; "why did I vote, why did I vote.."

 

[Raizi]

The sound of moving furniture is heard from Duality's room. Somehow the moving seems to take a lot more time than on the previous night. After few minutes, a pale and trembling figure enters the hall and starts to descend the stairs. Duality's red flowing hair is tangled around his face and something about the way he moves has changed as well. Duality walks with short, careful steps and seems to be holding an imaginary skirt, although he is visibly naked.

"What... what has happened? Michael told us that we were about to die and drank himself into oblivion so we wouldn't have to endure whatever torture our hostess had in store for us."

Ezmerelda pauses at the end of the stairway and takes in a few deep breaths.

"What happened? Was there no vote yesterday? I... my head is killing me. It feels like a thousand dwarven smiths are practicing their talents and my stomach is about to jump out. Did she poison us, is that it? I have never experienced anything like this before. Please, it's so cold, but I'm sweating. Will this be the end of us?"

Ezmerelda notices the grisly remains of the Doctor and Carlos and proceeds to spontaneously vomit on the spot. The floor below the staircase is quickly filled with last night's brandy and bits of chicken.

"What is this? Michael won't come out anymore, he says we are dead or about to die. Will we die?"

When speaking, there is no longer any rigidity in Duality's face. Ezmerelda's eyes are shyly scanning her surroundings. She stands up and lifts the skirts of her imaginary dress, so they wouldn't touch the pool of vomit.

"I... I am sorry. I think I best sit down. Could someone pass me the orange juice, please?"

As she sits down, she seems to realize something and blushes deeply.

"If I might ask, why are you all naked?"

 

[Duke Danse Macabre]

*Trudging wearily into the room he slowly, almost reluctantly looks about.... Seeing what had happened to the men the colour quickly drains from his face as he battles with himself in order to keep what remains of yesterdays meal down*

Wilhelmina... What have they done to you...
We should never of let that monster take her, it was bad enough when we thought she had been killed but this is even worse, being a slave to that thing. *Spiting out the last few words with as much hate as he was able to muster*

*Making his way across the room to Ysolda's side he sits down beside her*

You voted because we had to, we had a choice to vote or die when they finally came for ourselves.
For that you can't blame yourself, for being wrong..... I still blame myself for the man whose life it cost and it was my fault, same as this....
Shared blame or not we owe each and every person who has died here a debt to find and kill this damn monster. *Tears running down his cheeks*
Until then, we have to live with the knoledge of our choices and the guilt that comes with it.
*Sighing, his shoulders slumped he seemed smaller than before, dark rings under his eyes as time was wearing him down*

 

[Nelganis]

Agreeing with Christof, Isaac mutters to himself.
"Once again, we are wrong...2 more human lives lost for no gain whatsoever. How will we finish off the demons if we can't even discern who they are among us."

 

[Malochai]

"I ... Have my my suspicions for a while, and have voiced them before. I vote, once more, for Duality ... I have stated my reasons before,"

VOTE: Duality - Raizi

 

[Bravo_10]

The Masque sat down at the table, staring down at her hands. A look of utter dismay had made its way on to her face, and she spoke to the others:

"So this is the fate that awaits those of us who are captured by our hostess? I'm with Ysolda. If my time ever comes, I would surely rather take my own life than be turned into...one of those abominations."

A seething tone entered her voice as she spoke the last word, her disgust for the vampires in her articulation.

"Well, I suppose I have no choice but to continue with my previous conjecture. Twice I have voted for Duality, and twice have I not been among the majority." -now, directly to Duality- "I'm so sorry...if I'm wrong about this..."

Vote: Duality - Raizi

 

[Raizi]

Ezmerelda is trying to eat some bacon and ribs with termbling hands. She has already drunk a full pitcher of orange juice when she hears the votes cast against Duality.

"So it was you who hunted us yesterday too? No questions asked, you just proceed to cast your vote. I... I think I can understand that. If my head would just stop aching..."

Draining another glass of orange juice, Ezmerelda takes a few roasted ribs on her plate and fills her glass again.

"I usually don't even eat meat, but now I find myself craving for something that's nice and salted and dripping with fat. Perhaps we are the monster you say as these are not my normal desires. I wonder what father would say if he saw me now, feasting on meat like an animal?"

Turning towards Christof.
"I have now pieced together that it was your vote yesterday, that saved our lives. I... we are all thankful for that. I see you have yet to cast your vote. We will follow your lead today with our own vote, in a way of thanking you with the mercy you showed us yesterday. I... I thank you kind ser."

Ezmerelda smiles shyly towards Chistof with her full face, and manages to spill the glass or orange juice on herself as she tries to sorten out her hair with a fluid motion. Se instantly turns deep red and freezes as if waiting to be reprimanded.
"Oh no! My dress! I'm sorry father, I'm so sorry."

Ezmerelda starts sobbing and runs back to the stairs and towards Duality's bedroom. The orange juice is dripping down from Duality's naked legs, meanwhile she's still holding her imaginary skirts. She mumbles to herself as she goes:

"You stupid, clumsy fool of a girl. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. My only nice dress, now it's ruined..."

 

[Nelganis]

"With two more humans lost, I'm afraid that it's time for me to gamble on something. A few hours ago, I said that I believed Masque to be the only one here that I'm almost guaranteed is human...And it's about time for me to trust her."
Looking at the Masque, Isaac nods in sincerity before turning to Duality.

"I understand that you fear what happens to your souls, Duality. I understand everything and am truly sorry if this isn't the right decision."
Isaac pauses to clear his throat.
"Also...I know that it's not much but...If I survive this, I will personally hunt down the sorceror who cursed you and give you the final peace that you deserve. That is, after I tear out Ivanna's heart."

 

[Nelganis]

VOTE: DUALITY

 

[Zephyr]

Ysolda sadly shakes her head as she hears the others make their vote.
"I agree his, I mean, their behavior is very odd but I do fully believe the body they inhabit is not a vampiric one."

She smiles at Christof besides her and puts her hand on his.
"Thank you Christof for your kind words, I agree we owe it to those that died to find the remaining monsters and destroy them utterly!"
Ysolda's voice sounds fierce all of a sudden, her eyes burning with fire. She pats Christof comfortingly on the shoulder and walks off to her room.
"Excuse me, I need some time to think. Erik's words especially haunt me, those about the other vampire possibly being a woman. I need some time alone to think my vote through."

 

[Raizi]

Sound of slamming doors and moving furniture can be heard from Duality's room as if someone is searching for something frantically. The sounds quiet down after a while and then for a few hours Duality's chamber is completely quiet.

In the evening, the door to Duality's room can be heard opening again and Duality walks down the stairs back to the hall.

"GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. IT SEEMS I WILL HAVE TO BE THE ONE SEEING THIS FARCE COME TO AN AND AS MICHAEL IS STILL UNWILLING TO COME OUT AND NOW EZMERELDA REFUSES TO BE SEEN. SHE CLAIMS ALL HER DRESSES HAVE BEEN STOLEN FROM THE WARDROBE AND SHE WON'T WEAR A SOILED ONE. LUCKILY I STILL HAVE MY ARMOR AND NO JUICE WILL POSE A THREAT TO HARD PLATE."

Ser Gilmore taps Duality's naked chest as if it were a breastplate.

"YOU MUST EXCUSE ME, FOR I NEED TO NOURISH MYSELF. IT SEEMS MICHAEL LEFT OUR BODY IN A STATE OF REPENTANCE AFTER DRINKING TOO HEAVILY ON THE BRANDY. I WILL JOIN THE CONVERSATION SHORTLY."

Ser Gilmore gives a court nod to everyone in the hall and proceeds to fill his plate with vegetables, bread and red meat from the table. Then, Ser Gilmore quietly sits down and starts to eat, carefully chewing each mouthful without haste before swallowing.

 

[Raizi]

After finishing his meal, Ser Gilmore cleans his teeth with a small bone. After he's done he speaks out.

"HALF OF THE VOTES ARE AGAINST US AND HALF OF US ARE YET TO VOTE. I WILL HOLD MY VOTE UNTIL I'VE HEARD WHAT YSOLDA AND CHRISTOF ARE ABOUT TO SAY. I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE WE CAN FURTHER EVADE YOUR CONDEMNATION AND I DON'T BLAME YOU. I PERSONALLY WOULD VOTE AGAINST MICHAEL TOO IF WE DIDN'T SHARE THE SAME BODY AND IT WOULDN'T ALSO MEAN MY OWN DEMISE. I GENUINELY HATE HIS GUTS."

Ser Gilmore stands up calmly and starts to pace around the table with long strides.

"THE HOUR IS GROWING LATE, THOUGH. I WONDER IF THEY WILL EVEN VOTE TODAY?"

 

[Duke Danse Macabre]

*Taking a deep breath*

This has gone on far to long.
Now is the time for action no matter the worry in our hearts.

Alessandro I'm going to be straight with you.
I don't trust you, this is not because of what you have done but because of your absence whilst we have all been living in terror.
Now I may be wrong in saying this and I hope for all our sake's that I am not, I don't think I'll see another day if I am.
I'm sorry if I am mistaken Alessandro. *A look of resignation passing across his features*
But all I have left in here is my mind, or what little of it remains.

Vote: Alessandro

 

[Raizi]

"EZMERELDA PLEDGED OUR VOTE FOR CHRISTOF AND EVEN THOUGH SHE CAN BE A BIT JUVENILE AT TIMES I WILL HONOR HER WORD."

Vote: Alessandro Bartolomé - Malochai

 

[Zephyr]

Ysolda suddenly rushes out of her room.
"I too put my vote in for Alessandro. Where was he all this time? I cannot vote for the others as I have ample evidence of them being one of the monsters amongst us. Alessandro seems to be the best choice to vote, forgive me if I'm wrong."

Vote: Alessandro

 

[Nelganis]

Staring at Christof and Ysolda, blankly.
"You guys realize that once again this is left to chance right? Duality is once again up on the chopping block and will somehow survive miraculously...Or at least, it's a theory of mine."
Turning to the jester himself.
"Once again, you've waited for someone else to have a stone cast at them before you've jumped on their bandwagon to save your own skin..."

 

[Raizi]

(To Isaac)

"WE ONLY SEEK TO SURVIVE. YESTERDAY MICHAEL ACCEPTED OUR FATE AS THE LAST VOTE WAS CAST AGAINST US, BUT THEN GOOD CHRISTOF SHOWED MERCY BY CHANGING HIS MIND. TODAY WE HONOR HIM BY VOTING IN ACCORD WITH HIM. CAN YOU FIND DISHONOR IN GRATITUDE?"

 

[Malochai]

*To All*

"Well .. It looks to be like my time is up ... I just hope you can live with yourselves when it is done ...
"And as for where I was ... I was here, and in the summer hills of my childhood home, playing as I did when I was young, riding horses and even back in the schoolroom. I returned to a time when I was happy, unafraid. This is the most gruesome thing; gone even beyond what even I imagined these things could do. I apologise if my mind shut off for a while, but I needed ... Needed time to come to grips with what had happened. If that is reason enough to kill me, on your own heads be it ..."