Log:The Cheese Shop Incident, Scene 3

The Cheese Shop Incident 2020/12/11 	 Artemis Ascendant Linda Magda Victory Augustus Priest Cornelius Eyescratcher Rosabel Tinhat Theophilia Whitehood 3

The heroes, following up on the robbery of Salford's Specialist Cheeses in Lowtown, have learned that the death of Barnabas Bighead clearly has not put an end to the trouble with the sentient rat population. They have used an old device of Dr Fogg's to shrink themselves to about 6 inches tall and have pursued the rats into their tunnels under the city (including many newly made). They seem finally to be approaching a great meeting of rats, and have spotted four guards up ahead.

The way is indeed long, and the noise from the meeting of rats confusingly seems to come multiple tunnels. But at least this means the heroes have avoiding the two guard rats they had spotted. The noise of the congress of rats is now getting more definite, and more certainly from one direction....

It's Artemis, in the lead, who first catches a glimpse of reflected light from a rat pistol up ahead. 4 rats, at least, are there. "The congress is a waste of time!" one rat is saying. "THey'll never agree. This will end in a fight!" "What do you think we're here for?" says another. 

Linda activates her xray vision to see the four guards and whats beyond them.

Magda says from her tail-end-Charlie position, "I presume slipping in unnoticed is not an option?"

Victory shrugs, and says quietly. "We could try. I'm not sure how likely we will be to pull that off."

Artemis takes a deep breath like she's about to issue a challenge to the rats. She holds it as the others speak about sneaking in.

Victory points to Artemis, like that explains why sneaking might be hard.

Artemis gives Victory an affronted look.

Linda says quietly as she watches events taking place, "Looks like a big convention. Like a political meeting. It looks like at American-style party convention, with different factions in groups in a big chamber (hard to say what it is. Maybe an long-since abandoned hero or villain base?). Most of the rats have some sort of article of clothing or whatever to denote their allegiance. Only a few have weapons percentage-wise, but that still makes a lot in total! A lot of these are in small groups in a perimeter guard outside the main chamber. We could try to attend peacefully?"

NNS flies after his sister, clearly intending to put down the rats talking ahead. He too pauses only when the thought of subterfuge is shared amongst the Mortals.

"Well then if that is your wish, perhaps a distraction is in order instead?" He asks quietly turning into a rat.

Magda smiles wryly; that was the very reason she'd asked. "If Artemis will withhold her challenge, I can possibly get us closer. I cannot conceal us from their sense of smell, though."

Victory nods to Linda, "We can try approaching peacefully. I'm not optimistic, but without that mentalist leader they had, they might be more...amenable."

Artemis looks to the others and whispers, "They plan treachery if the vote goes not in their favor."

Linda frowns, "Uh, I'm not so sure after what I just heard, Victory. One of the guards here just said if they don't accept their guy as king the others won't be going home."

Ascendant shrugs his ratty shoulders. "I beleive the hu-mans call each other rats when the subject is not to be trusted. So- this rings true." He surmises after hearing Artemis' update. "The question is- what shall we do about these dishonorable rodents now?"

Linda says, "I might be able to make a new tunnel around the guards to the big chamber. Not sure as I haven't tried it before but it ought to be possible."

"We should deal with these treacherous rats," Artemis votes quietly.

Artemis asks Linda, "Can you do this in silence? I thought to smash through these tunnels, but this could not be done without being noticed."

Victory nods. "I think...we should approach directly. If they fight, they fight."

Linda is still looking at the rats both close and in the chamber. "The rats with weapons on guard here and elsewhere are part of a large fraction if I read the armbands correctly as a group ID.

Magda's lips twist; while her initial reaction is to let them fight it out, there may well be peaceable factions inside the meeting hall. "Artemis, the problem is that the other guards may well be of the same mind. We needed to be able to deal with the threat no matter its source. But -- do you think you can do so silently, in one strike?"

"Did you hear something?" says one of the rats on guard.

Linda asks, "Should I go and ask if we can enter the convention? If they attack me you then have reason to respond."

Victory nods to Linda. "Or I can do that."

The rats sniff alertly down the various tunnels at the junction they guard.

Linda smiles, "You have a tough brick. Might as well use me, sie."

Artemis looks to the girl. "I worry about those claims, for you were shattered to pieces by the Overman. Though surely these rats cannot do the same to a mortal."

"I've never seen a Mortal stand up to the likes of Overman- I say let the girl do it. These are not Overman. She more than proved herself sturdy in my eyes." NNS declares with a ratty nod to Linda.

"I don't smell anyone," says the rat looking up your tunnel. "Slight air movement, maybe."

Linda shivers a little, a clouded expression briefly flitting over her face. "I need to get back on the horse. Or I might not manage to ride again if I don't do it now."

Victory thinks about it a moment. This situation isn't nearly as dangerous as Overman was. "Alright." He still doesn't sound completely thrilled with sending Linda forward.

Artemis looks about at that. "Alas, we did not think to bring steeds with us in these tunnels..."

Korkoro regards Linda for a long moment. "Colliquiallism, Artemis. I'll explain later. Go ahead, Golden Girl."

Linda nods, "Thanks, sir." she says to Victory. Then walks forward with no attempt at stealth into the sight of the rat guards, "Hello. I come in peace as a part of a human fraction. We wish to attend the convention as we are interested parties."

"What the?!" "A human - but it's tiny!" A third one laughs. "Halt - who goes there?" says the last, pointing its 'rifle' at Linda.

Artemis frowns at Nohrbor. "She would not have survived had it not been for the quick work of this one," she motions to Korkoro. "She's just a pup. Why send her if there is fear to tread there?"

Linda lifts her hands in a peacable gesture, "I am Golden Girl. A member of Starguard Gamma. Those with me wish to attend and speak in your convention."

That causes some alarm. "Starguard? They have big weapons!" "And they treat rats as enemies! She could be a spy!" "Are you alone, human?"

"It could be a technarchy trick," muses one.

"Because there is no fear to be had, Sister." NNS says calmly. "We are here- and we shall watch over her." He adds confidently before floating down the tunnel to get clsoer without making his presence known directly.

NNS turns ghostly as he goes to keep from even being physically present.

The one who seems most collected keep his rifle trained on Linda. "What to you wish to say to the Congress?"

Linda skake her head, "No. I'm not alone. I already told you that. I asks if - we - could attend the comvention. Starguard has taken action against rats who have broken our laws in our city. Just as they have against humans and aliens who have broken laws. Starguard is not an enemy of rats, like they are not the enemy of aliens or humans."

Artemis frowns in further disapproval at Nohrbor's claims, but only because the girl was near death on their watch. She folds her arms over her chest in silent protest.

Korkoro shakes her head in disagreement with NNS. "Precisely /because/bthere is fear. Fear that must be pushed through. That's what true heroism is -- cold courage." She floats out, drifting down the tunnel to come slowly behind Golden Girl.

"I say again, what do you want to say? Do you support the New Order?"

Linda says, "I am not the leader of our delegation. My superior is the one you should ask that question to. Shall I ask the others to approach?"

NNS has no fear- that is what he meant, but the point seems lost and GG is facing her own fears boldly, so he has nothing to say on the matter. In fact he stays silent and incoporeal as he waits for an opportunity to cut around all of this. Afterall- he can just fly through the wall and exit behind the rats. He figures the Urthers may still need that distraction,e ven if they do get past these guards. So he bides his time.

"Very well. Slowly." He says to the others, "Cover them."

Linda raises her voice, "The guards here have aggred to let you approach."

The others raise their guns, too.

Korkoro, her force-field shimmering around her as she flies, approaches slowly. Tricky, this flying underground and shrunken.

Victory steps forward into view, not making any sudden moves. He raises a hand in greeting. "We don't know enough about your New Order to know whether or not we support it. We would like to know more."

"Metahumans!" mutters one, seeing Korkoro flying.

Artemis keeps her shield out and walks out when they're given permission.

"The New Order will restore to ratdom the peace that was destroyed by Barnabas Bighead!" says one. Cornelius Rex will end the tribalism and bring back prosperity!

Ascendant keeps his ratty-ghost self right where he is- out of sight.

Victory doesn't have his shield on currently. Instead he's just waiting. "I see. May we come inside to learn more?"

The leader seems doubtful still. "What is your agenda?"

Victory titls his head, "Just that. To learn more about what's going on here. As I said."

"And what will you do with what you learn?"

Artemis keeps quiet so she doesn't ruin the mortals' deception.

Victory chuckles and then says, "That depends on what we learn. If, like Bighead, you want to destroy humanity, then we will...unsurprisingly have issues with that. If you intend to keep robbing from humans, that might be a problem, too. We won't know until we find out what your intentions are."

Magda glances towards Victory, and keeps her thoughts to herself.

The rats discuss the matter among themselves briefly. "You may pass. But you must surrender your weapons."

NNS is the weapon, and 'you may pass' is the magic passphrase that gets him to resume his normal form and stride out with his palms out wide to show he is unarmed as he joins the others.

Victory nods. "I only have a shield. Is that acceptable to hold onto?"

The leader nods. "Very well." A shield doesn't seem that threatening, with the humans so few in number!

Artemis's weapon will come when called. She unsheathes the blade Andrirnyl and stabs it into the ground. The rats won't be able to move it from its place anyway. "Andrirnyl surrenders to no one, but it shall remain," she proclaims as she walks away from her blade and to the entrance of the rat congress.

The rats seems satisfied with Artemis's action.

Artemis is compelled to add due to her requirement to tell the truth, "So long as there is no treachery or battle."

The rats let you by, and indeed give directions, though 'follow the cacophony' would do by this point.

Linda falls in behind Victory and follows him.

Korkoro watches the others precede her, then resumes her post as rear guard, giving the rats a glance as she passes by.

As the heroes proceed down the tunnels, a couple of the rats attempt to retrieve Andrirnyl. :)

Victory heads through, toward the gathering. "Okay, this isn't really what I expected."

NNS follows, looking as much like a Mortal as he can. Once out of eye sight of the rats he once more assumes their form- so he might get lost in the crowd. From the sound of things, there must be quite a large crowd ahead.

"Can anyone pinpoint our exact location? By which I mean," Magda adds, "what is directly above us?"

Artemis walks alongside Victory, "Aye, I thought we were here to apprehend thieves."

"I can look above now that I know what's below." NNS reasons. Seems simple enough for him to ghost his way topside and come back down to the level they're at.

Victory nods to Artemis, "Taht's part of it, for sure. But that's no the reason to visit their meeting, in my opinion. Not all of it. We need to learn more, to be sure. Some of them did raid the cheese shop, but which ones? We...need to learn which ones."

Victory says, "But...this is bigger than just a single theft. Clearly."

Linda's surmise that it might be an old villain base seems the more likely once you reach the vast chamber. It has thick, bunkerlike walls, but they have been breached, no doubt by superpowers, and seemingly long ago. The entrance is through this huge crack. Anything dangerous, it would appear, has long since been stripped - if not by the assaulting heroes then since.

"They claimed it for their kingdom, did they not? Those rats we found glutted on their stolen goods," Artemis comments quietly to Victory. "That would seem to mean the orders went beyond those who committed the act."

As you enter the chamber itself, you see a vast crowd of rats, grouped in various factions and (in some cases at least) around certain leaders. Most of them have some sort of marker indicating their allegiance. Those with an armband on their left forelegs surround the rat who is currently addressing the chamber - standing on a big hill of cheese! There is another faction who have an armband on their other foreleg. A small group with gun-shaped amulets (some wearing robelike clothes) are in a prominent position.

Victory nods to Artemis, "Quite possible. But it's not impossible that they were rogues just acting on their own."

"That was the New Order, Artemis," Korkoro says. "We must determine whether it is a portion of them, all of them but only them, or the nation entire. A complicated situation indeed."

Another group has some sort of necklace and often advanced tech. One group is wearing tinfoil hats. One group has some copper-wire necklaces, though not all of them wear them. And the last small group has scarified tails.

Over the murmur of the crowd the amplified voice of one rat is sounding:

"... new age of prosperity. The New Order will bring prosperity to all - this cheese is but a mere fraction of what we can accomplish if you join us! Rather a more impressive achievement, you have to agree, than the thefts for which Maximillian Cheesesnatcher is known!" There are laughs from the crowd, and bristling from the copper-collared faction.

Victory glances to Artemis, "I guess we found the thief."

The speaker is a very large, and apparently charismatic, black rat, with a golden left armband.

"Is my cheese among them?" NNS asks, looking around. He is still intent on enjoying his prized pairing.

Victory heads toward where the speaker is, figuring that they'll start to draw attention shortly.

Artemis sets her eyes on the obvious thief on a hill of cheese. She strides forward purposefully with the intent to bring the obvious culprit to Urth justice!

Another rat snatches attention before the heroes do. "Fool!" she cries out. "Do not listen to this traitor! Barnabas Bighead will return - I have seen it!" Her faction (with the scarred tails) follow this with some sort of religious-sounding chant. There are murmurs from the crowd, and some scornful laughs.

Some people start chanting, "Bighead, Bighead", but its is soon drowned out by chants of "Eyescratcher" - though these same rats soon change to chanting "Rex" instead.

The leader of the gun-amulet wearers (the High Priest of the Church of Eleven) calls for order, but is rather drowned out.

Victory calls out as he gets closer. "Bighead is dead! He won't be coming back!"

The tinfoil-hatted rats whom the heroes are passing through were largely booing the invoked name of Bighead, but they begin to fall silent as they begin to notice the tiny humans - and more so when Victory calls out.

NNS uses the attention to slip away- away from the tiny humans, so he can assist in his own - altogether different way.

He tries to find a group that seems more neutral than the others.

The white-hooded rat with the scarred tail points at Victory and the heroes. "See? As I foretold, the tiny humans have come, seeking this would-be king!"

There's actually a gasp from the crowd. It sounds like maybe your advent was indeed predicted!

Victory chuckles and calls out, "We came here...originally because a bunch of cheese was stolen! We would like to recover such. And then...we can discuss how you might be able to live in PEACE with humans. And be completely self-sufficient!"

Korkoro slips into invisibility as well, flying up and high overhead, where she remains hovering and unseen.

"Did I not say the human would say those words? Do you still not believe my prophecy oof Bighead? And see how the false kind Eyescratcher has but drawn more attention from humans!" says the prophetess.

"Don't listen to Whitehood - she cannot accept the old order is past and the New Order here!" Cornelius Eyescratcher/Rex continues, trying to get back the attention of the crowd, though the humans and Whitehood seem to have the greater share of attention now."

Artemis plants her hands on her hips and listens. She had enough trouble following Urth politics as is.

"Let the humans speak!" says the high priest.

This raises NNS' curiousity. To be witness to prophecy amongst a newly sentient race? He pauses, stands and watches the speakers closely.

"Yeah!" NNS sas, hoping to sway the crowd a bit to see what else was foretold.

This time, they seem to listen to him. The crowd parts to let the heroes through to the centre of the room.

Victory raises a brow, but then says, "First, we need to recover what was stolen. If you want to be viewed as...an equal, like the inhabitants of Monkey Island are, you need to make a statement. A gesture in good faith. Returning what was stolen would go a long way to helping relations."

Cornelius is about to object, but the high priest raises a silencing paw and gets support from the leader of the copper-necklaced faction. "That is what I have always said: it is better to be at peace with the humans!"

The rats in general seem divided by Victory's words. THere's some wisdom in that. On the other hand - that's a mountain of cheese! Hard to turn one's back on that.

NNS listens to the rats around him- hoping to determine the cause of the split so he might help sway the crowd from amongst them.

Victory continues, "After that...you should send a representative. Or...more than one. Perhaps a council? To speak to the folks at Starguard. They will be able to help you become self-sufficient, so you don't have to resort to stealing from others. Perhaps you can learn to MAKE your own cheese? As much as you need?"

"We want to be self-sufficent and equal!" NNS calls out from the crowd. "They can teach us to /make/ the cheese ourselves! Return the Idiazabal to the Human with excellent taste!"

Cornelius finds a new tack. "Now the humans want to coexist as equals? They have been killing us since the dawn of time! And now they want peace - on THEIR terms?"

Ascendant's call is taken up by the rats of the Free Rat Alliance he's standing among, and begins to spread to some other factions too.

Victory shrugs, "I will be honest - not all humans would want to give you as much freedom as I am suggesting here. I am advocating more strongly for what IS possible. But treating humans like the enemy will only guarantee that they will want to kill you. I believe though...that is IS possible to have peace. It IS possible to for humans to afford you respect. But that will take WORK."

Let us not forget," says the high priest, spotting a way of maybe avoiding both civil war and war with the humans, "That Eleven was a human. To him we owe our sentience and the very words we speak!" He makes the sign of the gun, which the majority of rats (admittedly largely reflexively) return.

The leader of the Resistance, in their tinfoil hats, speaks up. "Return the cheese! This New Order is like Bighead's old one - it will only bring conflict with the humans!"

"Let us unshackle ourselves form the past and learn to cheese four ourselves with the Mor--hu-mans!" NNS shouts in agreement with the leader of the Resistance. "Return the Idiazabal for FREEDOM! For PEACE! To fill the bellies of our squirming babes!"

The mood of the room is shifting against the New Order, and it seems increasingly unlikely Cornelius will persuade the other factions to support him in his bid. His followers cluster more tightly about the cheese mountain.

Korkoro watches from high above, and knows that this could well mean disaster. She returns to visibility, descending to come face to face with the would-be king. "That does not mean," she says personally to the rat who commands the majority of weapons, "that you could not still lead; just leave them in a different direction -- a new direction, other than that which Bighead desired. Be a true New Order."

The New Order rats are increasingly exchanging glance and trying (subtly) to get ready with their weapons.

Cornelius gives Korkoro a dubious look. He can tell that he's lost his bid for ruling all the rats. But perhaps he can keep his own tribe.... "GO THEN!" he says over his loudspeaker to the room of rats. "Make peace with the humans if you wish! I will not stop you. But THIS cheese belongs to me and to the New Order!"

A cheer goes up from the New Order rats.

Well- that seems to be a line drawn in the sand. NNS' eyes zoom and lock on to Cornelius. His Idiazabal will not be lost so easily. He begins to move towards the pile of cheese sneakily- just like a rat would.

Once he's close he says, "Let there be a duel for it! How the Hu-mans used to do it! Winner takes all the cheese!"

Victory turns his shield on, and looks at Cornelius.

Korkoro figured it was abfifty-fifty shot. If he wasn't persuaded, he'd do this -- like so many other dictators she'd dealt with in the past. Well, fine. A gesture, and electricity comes at her command, then leaps towards Cornelius.

Artemis gasps at the treachery, her eyes set on Cornelius and Magda. She says quietly to Wade without looking away, "I fear, my Friend, that thy talk of peace shall have been for naught, just as thou were so close."

Linda snaps her head around and looks utterly stunned by what she sees.

The big black rat flies off his cheese perch, leaving a smell of burned flesh and fur, and impacts the ground below. He looks in a very bad way.

Victory sighs and says to Artemis. "I think...you might be right. But it would have been a fight anyway."

Ascendant sees /his/ cheese wheel. The stalwart Idiazabal and it's savory, smoky flavor that is only to be paired with the finest Tempranillo calls to him- roaring over the din of chaos that urupts around them.

He runs for his wheel so he can fly it to safety!

The Doj'on Godflora- who could often be mistaken for an Urther God of Debauchery or Winemaking or Merrymaking like Dionysus on most any day cares not for the pitiful squabbles of those who will not heed good sense. So he moves throught e crowd, lunging at his bounty and once his paws are wrapped around it he turns on his ghostiness to turn him and the cheese incorporeal so they can fly straight to the surface.

The rats are so stunned by the surprise attack that they are slow to act.

Artemis is still struck by surprise at Korkoro's actions. "Be ye possessed? You threaten the peace Friend Victory is trying to broker here!" she calls out as she flies up to Korkoro. "Now there may be none, unless you are made to answer for this cowardly assault!" she announces as she attempts to seize Korkoro.

"THAT is war!!" Korkoro shouts. "THAT is what it means. Cats, terriers, traps and poison. EXTERMINATION. Do you truly wish to be the last of your kind???"

Artemis is evaded and her arms close around thin air, leaving her hovering behind Korkoro.

Victory knew it would come to a fight, but didn't expect that kind of attack. "You just made this a LOT more complicated, you know that, right!?" He hurried to try to get ot hte downed rat to see if there's anything he can do to aid the rat. He says to the rats, "I'm going to try to treat his wounds!" He hopes that will be enough to keep them from attacking him...but he knows they still might go after him anyway.

Victory clears the crowd and gets to the rat...and quickly works on stabilizing the rat's condiition. "I think he'll live."

Linda follows Victory, intending to provide as much cover and protection for him as she can while he is aiding the downed Rex.

The outraged rats of the New Order have one and only one target: the would-be assassin (as they see Korkoro - and her speech does nothing to make them think otherwise). Luckily, only eleven of them are in a position to fire on her.

Artemis is struck by Korkoro's body and unmoved, and too slow to catch her.