3963/Nicky visits Sundew Castle

Nicky visits Sundew Castle
Date of Scene:	27 September 2016
Location:	Sundew Kingdom
Synopsis:	A thief tries to make off with royal treasures!
Cast of Characters:	Sarracenia, 968

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Sarracenia has posed:
     Another lovely day in the Sundew Kingdom. Although this kingdom is not that well known, if one was looking for valuable items they would very likely end up here. Stories of stores of gold, jewels, and power items would be tempting for any enterprising rogue. The sky above the city is full of wooden airships, the streets are full of human and pirahna plant people, and the castle itself is well guarded by scores of armored plant men.

     And, any sort of intelligence gathering would reveal that this country has a rather hot-headed and slightly unstable princess. Most people would say to avoid her even on a good day. The castle containing the vast stores of goodies is tall even for a castle. Its walls are made of alabaster stones, the windows are nearly all stained glass murals, and the front gate and drawbridge are quite large.

     Given the size of the trees, which tower over even the castle towers, the walls that protect the town are likely holding back all sorts of nasty creatures. But, getting into the city is relatively easy by the one road that leads in through the forest or by the much more popular airship docks.

Nicky (968) has posed:
Nicky hasn't really planned her first steps into the Sundew kingdom, but as soon as she discovered an access point to it and had made a rough estimate that the castle might be worth a try, she had went to prepare a few things, returning with a backback with climbing gear as well as a small caliber gun she has 'relieved' from a park ranger, loaded with Ketamine injecting darts and about two dozen reserve shots. It hadn't been her first choice, but the world next door had much easier access to these than to other stuff.

As she returned, she took her way along one of the roads. The backpack looked rather stuffed, and the gun was strapped to the side pretty obviously.

Sarracenia has posed:
     Nicky's weapon is very obvious in this town. While there are plenty of guards wandering around with spears, she has the only projectile weapon in the kingdom that isn't a ship-sized cannon. The pirahna plant soldiers eye her suspiciously, but don't try to detain her. They just mutter such things as 'don't cause trouble' and 'we're watching you'.

     The human citizens seem pretty normal, though they are a minority in this town. There are also a few large bug-like people who are dressed in tribal gear, but they are mostly limited to shacks typical of voodoo shaman. The main road into town leads to the castle gates, and in this time of peace the drawbridge is down. The guards are minimal at the bridge and the castle gate, but they are present enough to mean that a careful approach will be necessary to get into the castle and anywhere near the valuables.

     And, if she is looking around, Nicky would likely spot the princess of the land standing on the center balcony a few floors up, just watching the people in the town below. It is obvious that she is the princess. That shimmering red hair, that little gold crown, and that long, frilly red dress. She seems lost in thought.

Nicky (968) has posed:
Nicky sighs a moment as she counts the guards and then turns into a side alley, looking for one of the larger trees, one that might hang over the wall so she could use it as an entry points. She moved quickly, the gun strapped to the backpack in a way that hinted it might take a minute or two to prepare it, especially as it was still unloaded.

Sarracenia has posed:
     The alley is much less watched. A few typical citizens mill about, and give Nicky a curious look when she passes them, but otherwise it is quiet. Inside the town the trees are much shorter than outside the city walls, but there are a few that grow tall enough to reach windows above ground level and a few balconies are within tree reach.

     As the front gate is the only entrance into the castle, the rest of the castle perimeter is not guarded beyond one roaming patrol. It would be pretty easy to climb a tree or flagpole and get into the castle.

Nicky (968) has posed:
Nicky quickly checks a corner next to one of these trees so she does not get seen as she scales it and then takes a position on one of the branches reaching over the wall. Preparing the rifle, she counted the time between two patrols passing under her. She couldn't tell two of those guards apart, but she did wait for one to almost leave her field of view before sending a green-featehred dart after it, hoping to send it sleeping. The next moment, she jumped off the tree, turning into a plushie mid fall, a pink bloblike thing, that reminded awefully of the classic pink Pacman ghost as she couldn't think of something better that moment.

Sarracenia has posed:
     The targeted guard flinches as he is struck by the dart, then almost comically fast he falls forward, audibly snoring. His partner, walking in front of him, continues on his merry way. So, the pink pacman plushie goes unnoticed. But, that's alright since no one is left to notice it. Nicky has a small window of opportunity to make her next move.

Nicky (968) has posed:
Even being hindered by being a 6 legged plushie without feet, Nicky tries her best to speed towards the closest access to the main building she remembers, rustling through the grass in all her pinkyness.

Sarracenia has posed:
     Being a plushie is sure to slow one down, and the only access other than the main gate is the servants' entrance. It had one guard stationed there, who stares a moment as he sees that 6 legged pink ghost, then raises the large leaves that are his arms so he can rub his lack of eyes before he looks again.

Nicky (968) has posed:
Nicky attempts to just rush by in the guards confusion, though the lack of hands might turn the door into a rather sudden stopper - opening doors is obviously not what plushies are made for, not even two-foot diameter Pacman ghosts.

Sarracenia has posed:
     But, by sheer luck, the door opens right as Nicky reaches it, and a pirahna plant carrying a large barrel steps out. He stops at the door as the guard makes raspy growl sounds that translate to him thinking he is going crazy. To which the worker plant agrees.

     So, Nicky is inside! This is obviously the food store room connected to the royal kitchen. Not exactly the store she was looking for, but at least she isn't outside in the open anymore. Other than the plant still standing in the door, there is no one in the store room. But, growls from chef plants can be heard from the kitchen. It would be pretty easy to hide behind boxes and barrels in here, and to one side is another door that leads into the laundry room. There are surely more ways to go in there!

     Whatever her choice, Nicky should move quickly. The plant people aren't likely to leave her in here alone long.

Nicky (968) has posed:
Nicky dashing over towars the laundry room with its steam and hissing washing machines, Nicky changes back to her human shape, the gun and backpack returning with the clothes and a soft plopp as air gets pressed aside rapidly. Just through the door she ducks down again to look for a wagon of finished laundy. No matter if the Plantthings think they go crazy, she wants in more, and why not have them carry her in? Best in the shape of a cuddlepillow...

Sarracenia has posed:
     Nicky just barely makes it to one of the large push baskets before a plant creature in an apron comes along and pushes the clean laundry out. It might be hard to see, but soon enough Nicky and the laundry are pushes into a lift. But, rather than pushing a button, the plant creature starts turning a wooden wheel and the lift starts to move.

     It must be Nicky's lucky day, because after leaving the lift the plant pushes the laundry through a huge, intricate doorway that leads into a royal-looking suite. And it might be the princess's suite, judging by the frilly bedcovers, the collection of plushies, and the closet full of dresses that Nicky can see when the plant creature pushes the laundry toward it and opens the door. The closet itself is nearly half the size of the main room, which is very spacious itself. She might be able to slip out and hide among the dresses! Or, she could press her luck and try to flee when the pirahna plant maid isn't looking.

Nicky (968) has posed:
Nicky takes the third option and turns herself into a white seal plushie as she rides the lift up, hiding inside one of the dresses. The benefit of being small and light is that you might go unnoticed, and if... they think you are a toy. Usually.

Sarracenia has posed:
     The third option is a good one! When the maid plant pulls out the dress to hang it up, she notices the lump and pulls out the seal plushie. Naturally, she assumes it is one of Sarracenia's plushies and so places it in on the bed with the rest of the plushies. Then, the maid goes about her business, hanging up the laundry and pretty much ignoring the main room. This could be a chance to slip into the main hall and look for the royal treasury.

Nicky (968) has posed:
Nicky smiles to herself as she silently tries to get to the nightstand, checking it as a plushie for keys atop it first before she once more checks the room. Only then she turns back to human again, tying the rifle back to the side of the backpack in the cover of the bed.

Sarracenia has posed:
     There are no keys in the nighstand or any other drawers about the room, except for a small music box key that likely goes to the music box on the vanity. However, there are some expensive-looking jewelry pieces in the nightstand, and equally expensive looking makeups on the vanity. As Nicky resets her her rifle, the plant continues about her business. It will probably take a decent amount of time to hang up and/or fold all of those clothes, and the creature does not seem all that alert. She is even whistling as she works.

Nicky (968) has posed:
Nicky eyes the jewelry, then the door, then the jewelry again. First she settles the backpack on the ground, then she starts to gather jewelry that is easy to be taken apart or not too extravagant, because that stuff is sellable. Always when she has to pass the door to the dressing room she carefully peers in, but she doesn't watch for the balcony...

Sarracenia has posed:
     That could be a mistake. Because she might recall that the princess was on a balcony earlier. And just as Nicky is collecting the last of the easy to disassemble jewelry, there is a gasp from the the direction of the balcony. Then, a shrill, angry voice shrieks, "What are you doing, you miscreant?! Do you know where you are?!"

     When Nicky looks over, the princess from earlier would be standing there, glaring angrily at her and pointing a finger accusingly. "I do not know who you are...but if you wish to leave here unharmed, you will return anything you have taken. If not..."

     A rather sadistic grin appears on the princess's face, and she reaches over to pick up a nearby hammer. A hammer that might have been mistaken for some sort of decoration or lever given its size. "...I can pulverize you and send you to the prison on a stretcher." The princess waits, hammer raised, ready to strike. And she definitely looks as unstable as the rumors said.

Nicky (968) has posed:
Caught by surprise, Nicky looses her standing and vanishes in a tan cloud, which pulls together into a fennec plushie in a black shirt, falling the last meter to the floor. The pearls she had had in her had a moment ago seem to have vanished with her, but the backpack with the rope and loot was still standing next to the bed.

Sarracenia has posed:
     The princess is still pointing that finger when Nicky poofs into a fox plushie. Her sadistic expression is replaced by one of surprise, then she giggles. "How cute!" she says before rushing over and picking up the plushie Nicky. She sets the hammer down against the bed, then fuzzles the top of Nicky's plushie head. "You have been a bad widdle foxy, yes you have." she coos in a baby voice before huggling Nicky against her chest, arms wrapped under Nicky-plush's front legs.

     The princess walks over to the backpack, and as she does the maid plant peeks out of the closet. "Are you alright, Princess?" the plant creature asks in a raspy, rustling voice. The princess nods. "Just fine, Florence. Would you be a dear and inspect that backpack? There could be stolen items within." Then, the princess takes a seat on the bed. "So, what should I do with you? Perhaps add you to my collection?" she says, her grin returning as she keeps Nicky-plush hugged to her chest.

Nicky (968) has posed:
Nicky actually flails as she is squished into the chest of Sarracenia, the stubby arms hitting up and down on it. Though as she is mute as a plushie, Nicky can't really respond.

The whole backpack is actualyl stolen, but the climbing harness and ropes in it are unmarked, just like the wall anchors, the icepick and the reserve ketamine cartridges in a side pocket of it.

Sarracenia has posed:
     Sarracenia giggles at the cuteness of it as Nicky flails. "You hardly have room to complain. You were going to steal from me! A princess! And not just any princess. I am Princess Sarracenia Sundew, Crown Princess of the Sundew Kingdom! If you were one of my citizens, I would be well within my rights to imprison you for decades or even execute you! As it is, I will forgive your intrusion and your theft if you return everything and leave this kingdom."

     Sarracenia sets Nicky down, but hangs on to her fennec tail. "Of course, you would no longer be welcome here. Quite unfortunate. Someone who can change into cute little plushies would normally be very welcome here!" She suddenly scoops up Nicky and hugs her tightly again. "...only my plushies understand me without judging..." she murmurs, a dark look crossing her face.

Nicky (968) has posed:
Nicky tried to sit down as she was left to the ground but then flailed as she was held up at the tail again, helpless in the struggle against the princess. As she is once more tucked to the chest, the stubby arms again batter against the breasts.

Sarracenia has posed:
     Sarracenia huffs as Nicky continues to flail and batters her with those soft paws. She holds Nicky out at arms length. "So, you think you can steal jewelry -and- a feel?!" She stands quickly, then moves over to the backpack. "Have you recovered everything that belongs to me, Florence?" she asks the pirahna plant. The plant person nods her big tulip-like head, and the princess grins. "Good. Then, it is about time you leave." she says to Nicky. She opens the backpack, then stuffs Nicky-plush inside.

     Then, she picks up the backpack and heads for the balcony. It seems as though she intends to throw the backpack out with Nicky in it!

Nicky (968) has posed:
Can't open the backpack fast enough to get out again before the princess picks her backpack up. As a result she might end on the ground in front of the palace if nothing else happened.

Sarracenia has posed:
     The princess certainly isn't going to stop! She walks to the edge of the balcony, then grins. "I hope you have a nice fliii-iiiight~" she singsongs, then in typical Mario-world style, she grabs the backpack by one end and starts to spin. She quickly gains speed, then raises the backpack, aiming for the nearby wall. Or, more precisely, over it. "If you return, little plushie creature, I hope you return with an apology! Or with an appetite for prison food!" she says as she spins faster and faster.

     Finally, she lets go. "So long!" The backpack goes flying through the air in an impressive arc that carries it right over the city wall and into the jungle beyond. It is likely that Nicky and her backpack will smash against a tree and tumble to the ground. The trees are massive, after all.

Nicky (968) has posed:
Nicky can't even scream as her backpack goes flying, but she manages to open the hatch in flight - with was not the most smart move, because it results in her getting entangled in the ropes she had brought. The gun goes missing somewhere in flight, but at least the plushie does not end flattened against a tree - if only hanging some twenty yards in the air, entangled like in a bad cartoon.