Masquerade {Formerly The Broccoli Gang}

[ashdenej]

The figure roars a greeting in a blithe manner, seemingly unconcerned about the fact that he is on fire. He says that his name is THE BUTCHER, and that he's terribly pleased to meet you. The Maker uncertainly indicates that the pleasure is all his, but could they get out of the burning building before acquaintances are properly made? The newly introduced Butcher jovially agrees, and hefts another beam out of his path. Reaching the two other members of his little group, he picks up the Maker and sets him on his shoulders.

The Maker appears rather uncomfortable at this development. Heedless of his newfound friend's discomposure, he takes a rather surprised Banker by the hand and proceeds to batter his way out of the conflagration.

[LinaLove]

Butcher: make it to safety, then initiate proper introductions all around ==>

[ashdenej]

You're the Maker again, and you're wondering at the fact you don't know what one of your team members looks like. It's quite simple, really - because the Broccoli Gang's organization is cell-based, you've never actually seen the Butcher before, just talked to him over the radio. Additionally, it's not easy to guess at somebody's identity when you're in a collapsing building.

Having burst through a marble wall in a dramatic fashion, your helper sets you down and kindly lets go of the stunned Banker's hand. Turning towards you, he thrusts out his gauntleted hand and bellows a greeting towards you. You gingerly accept the crushing grip, hoping against hope that you'll exit this with your remaining hand intact.

Astonishingly he is quite gentle, despite his massive height, and is also capable of conversation that is at a humane level. You are pleasantly surprised, and idly wonder how the rest of the group is doing.

Butcher picture added to the biography post in honour of his introduction.

[LinaLove]

Maker: Operate your radio like a pro, put all team members on a party line and get the 411 ==>

[ashdenej]

Your radio is a two-way thing that can only call the Baker, Reaper, and Doctor - for this mission it has also been enabled to call the Banker, as you were working with him. This was an almost entirely useless factor, however, as you don't speak, and neither does the Banker. If they'd given you the option to party-line - which they haven't - then it could only have been made more impractical by letting the two of you call the Waiter.

Instead, you hand your radio to the Butcher. He's quite the inventor, even with those clunky gloves of his, and you feel sure he'll cook something up in no time. Unfortunately you're unable to voice exactly what you want, but you're sure he'll realize soon enough, even if you have to resort to a game of charades to accomplish your aim.

[LinaLove]

Butcher: Create something unbelievably useless (or useful, depending on your mood) ==>

[ashdenej]

The Butcher has created a FIXED-BAND FOUR WAY RADIO from your and the Banker's radios. Unfortunately, there is only one of this type of radio, and none of the other members of the group have a radio compatible with it! You are in awe of how he has managed to make something simultaneously so useful and useless. Nevertheless, you decide to give it a shot, and tune into whoever it is on this wavelength.

...Conversation crackles into life. It seems that you are listening in on KING PRAWN'S racketeering business - he is wanting to know just what the hell happened in the museum, and if the bombs had been a thing that they'd planned. His inquiry is rather insistent. You wonder whether you should chip in somehow, but the Butcher beats you to it. Cradling the device in his palms, he raises it to his mouth, while pressing the "talk" button. You think that you should perhaps intervene.

[LinaLove]

Maker: Try to shush the Butcher, attempt to rip his mask off if he refuses ==>

[ashdenej]

You flap your arm frantically, trying to prevent him from busting your ace in the hole. The Butcher appears concerned for your wellbeing, and unclicks the button in order to inquire if you're quite all right. You communicate that you do not wish to reveal your advantageous position, and that you think he should use the other radio to tell the Reaper.

With good humour, the Butcher obliges, radioing in the fact that he has rescued the two of you and that you know Prawn has plans. Big plans. The Reaper appears intrigued by this, and tells you to get to the rendezvous point to fill him in more thoroughly. It seems that you're finally going to get to meet your leader face-to-face. You let the Butcher drag you off towards his vehicle in an energetic manner.

[Yamtaggler]

EDIT: Ninja'd
>At least everything is still moving forward as planned, right? Right? There's no need for Reaper to reap anybody. That would just be silly.

[LinaLove]

Maker: check for traps before entering the unfamiliar vehicle ==>

[ashdenej]

You hope that your legendary leader will not be a vindictive and vengeful person, who gleans a great deal of satisfaction from mutilating or killing those of his henchmen which have failed him. That would... that would be awful. Your bleak thoughts are interrupted by the sight of the Butcher's mode of transport - it's a heavily armoured van that looks like it could withstand a small tactical nuclear blast. Nevertheless, you check beneath the chassis for any cleverly planted large nuclear missiles that might have managed to sneak under there.

The Butcher appears pleased at your throroughness and claps you on the back, sending you sprawling. You dust yourself off and motion for the Banker to enter the vehicle before you do, as he is much less vulnerable. This is cutting-edge trap checking that you're doing. However, it appears that it was all for naught - the Butcher's van seems absolutely fine.

[Thisuser]

==> Butcher: Get everyone inside and get this show on the road.

[ashdenej]

You get into the small van, cunningly disguised as a delivery truck, and trundle off to the destination. Greed appears unphased by this turn of events, but you're a little worried at your prospects. Eventually the vehicle exits the darkened district - ahead you see a waiting blimp, tethered to a small building.

Soon afterwards, you've reached the deck of the blimp. Arrayed around it are some unlikely people - surely that man in the corner there is Don Huel? What the heck is he doing on your airship? The Doctor is present, as are the Waiter, Pastor, and Baker. The Painter is nowhere to be seen, and you have the feeling that something might have gone horribly wrong - again - somewhere in the plan.

[LinaLove]

Maker: Locate the Reaper to fill him in on recent happenings and such, especially making sure he's not right behind you ==>

[ashdenej]

You attempt to assure yourself that he's not behoh my god how does he even do that? ...Just as you had suspected, he towers over you, tapping the stem of his pipe on one of the zeppelin's structural supports. Taking a puff, he inquires as to how you managed to foul up this job so badly, disregarding the fact that you do not speak. He appears to glean some information from your body language, and looks over towards the Don, congratulating him on having such a competent assistant.

The Don appears to be dubious as to whether the Reaper is pulling his leg or not. The impenetrable blackness of his hood offers no clue, and his peculiarly melodic voice appears to be entirely serious. The Don settles with a grunt. The Butcher appears to have the Don's presence niggling at his mind, as he damn well isn't in the gang, as far as he knows, at least. The Doctor assures him that everything is quite under control. It seems that the Doctor is a worse liar than the Reaper.

[LinaLove]

Maker: Wordlessly inform your leader of King Prawn's business ==>

[ashdenej]

Tamping his pipe, he tells you that he knows something about this, as the Baker was listening in earlier. He is interested in the expanded info, though, and highly pleased with the Butcher's invention. Setting it on a table, he switches it on. It seems that the network is busy - four people must already using it.

Disgruntled, the Reaper decides that the Baker might as well fill the rest of the Gang in about what exactly happened with the Painter. She seems devastated - you notice that she is cradling one of her arms in a trussed-up sling. You think that the tale she is about to tell will be very interesting and will most certainly not be interrupted.

[LinaLove]

Painter: Share your story, hopefully uninterrupted... ==>

[ashdenej]

The Baker casts her mind back to shortly after she got one of her appendages lopped off by the gentleman who is now glaring at her from across the flight deck. Having done so, he had grabbed the Painter's arm and spun him on his axis - a move that was almost exactly the same as that done by the Banker earlier - and held him hostage. This situation did not last long, as the Painter jerked out of the Don's grasp, straight off the Walrus statue, and into the city below. You both watched him plummet into the distance, and then the old man did the last thing you would have expected - he gave himself in, freely, to be brought before the rest of your gang.

As you relate this, you can't help but wonder why he wasn't clapped in irons as soon as he got on board - nevertheless, the fact remains that he is unshackled, grumpy, and looking impatient.

[LinaLove]

Somebody ask if the old man would like some refreshments, then ask what his purpose is for being aboard the airship ==>

[ashdenej]

The Waiter asks - silently but emphatically - why in the world he is present. Having seen his gestures, the Don looks a little hot under the collar. He admits he did not mean to kill the Painter, but argues that he had really brought it on himself. Nobody seems to be buying it, but the majority of those present are just sad at the loss of an integral member. After a short epithet by the Doctor, the meeting adjourns, with the Don being led off to a secure room by the Butcher.

You are now the DOCTOR, and you're wondering what you should do, whilst you pilot the blimp away from its moorings.

In memorial for that tragic figure, the Painter's image has been added to the biography post.

[LinaLove]

Doctor: Do not allow your piloting prowess to be shown up by the earlier wanton antics of the Painter, once you've gained enough altitude attempt a superior barrel roll ==>

[ashdenej]

Your thoughtful musings are put aside when you are told by the Baker about some of the Painter's last activities - specifically his ludicrous acrobatics with the dummy airship. You yourself do not have a penchant for showmanship, but you'll be damned if he gets the better of you, even if he is dead... you have your doubts about that, too. His desire for theatrical entrances resulted in some very elaborate setups in the past.

Your cruising altitude reached, you sedately spin the wheel. Everyone on the ship immediately begins to yell at you, and you hastily reright the balance of the zeppelin. Crisis avoided.

New, Maker-based theme for Pesterchum: Pridechum.

[LinaLove]

Doctor: Muse about the AUTOPILOT function of the airship ==>