"Eh-eh? You think I'd try to poison me own cr--erm--friends? I'm wounded. Luckily for you, we've got another one of our allies here."

"..." Asher blushed profusely moving the offending 'foot' off of her tail. "Ah! I'm so sorry m'dear. My appologies!"

meanwhile:

Country accepted the apology and attempted to make small talk with the group. "Not a problem hun... just wanted to let you know to watch those talons of yours." she gave a grin showing the tips of her canines. "How is your little friend over there? feeling better yet, i noticed you may have had a bit much to drink." "And you sweet deer, why so shy?"

She put her arm around the leader.

"So what is all this whispering about?" batting her long lashes at the Tengu, she knew how to work a male. If you are trying to be inconspicuous it really isn't working for you, not trying to be rude but coming from a fellow thief (oh wait you like to call yourselves pirates nowadays right?) you're going about it the wrong way... what ARE you trying to hide? I'm just curious that's all... not many of our kind around these days...

She looks over the others, something was up... she wanted in on the score... and if they don't want let her in... well, she had her stealth and cunning... she could always just sit back and wait for them to slip up and reap the benefits. At the very least she used the tail smashing to her advantage, get in with them, play nice, make friend (or enemies) and acquire information.

ok ladies i know it isnt wig related but this is really fun, would any of you like to come join us we need some more players.

@cresenta

As she twirled around the ballroom, Ruby tried to look for other crew members...but it was just so crowded, and everyone wearing masks and costumes to boot. When the song ended, she excused herself from her most recent dance partner and made her way over to the bar for a drink.

[Spoiler] I was thinking to be on the second team, though I'm very inexperienced with roleplaying. So, I hope some other join here, as I couldn't resist this(pirates, come on XD)[/spoiler]

Jay tapped her fan idly against her skirt while she pondered recent events.

Good fortune (or plain dumb luck, as her crew would say) had followed Jay all of her life, but a spate of recent bad luck had placed a crease on her brow. First, a birdman had raided her ship. Then her gloomy crew had been less than amused with her usual resolution: Blow everything up. She had figured that her lifelong good luck would somehow work out in her favor.

While she had argued with her crew, the other ship had slipped away. In a fit of bad temper, she had suddenly declared she would set the ship aflame. Her first mate had scooped her up and thrown her in the “brig.” In this case, brig meant a small broom closet pressed against the knob, so it would not open from the inside.

She had screamed at the door for a while. “I’ll blow you all up. All of you! And I’ll blow up that overgrown bird and his crew! And then I’ll eat him like chicken! He probably tastes chicken, right?”

Preoccupied with this idea, she had grown silent, and her crew had continued to form an actual plan.

When they had finally freed her from the closet – er, brig- the mere mention of masquerade on her native Ziara had sent her dancing round the ship.

This year, however, she found the masquerade to be less wonderful than she remembered. She had already drawn attention to herself by attempting to chomp on a masked man with bird legs. Unfortunately, it turned out he just wanted to dress as a Lain for masquerade. That incident had scared off nearby potential dancers.

“Not like chicken. Probably not like chicken,” Jay muttered as she remembered the taste of faux feathers. The fact that fake Lain and genuine tengu might taste different did not occur to her.

A single feather would sure fetch some money on the market, she reflected. She stuffed her face with some scones as she wondered what people did with “overgrown chicken” feathers.

As her eye fell on one of the Ikuut dancing on the refreshment table, she let out an exclamation.

“Maybe you can plant one and grow your own bird creature!” she said to the adorable sapling.

“Does that woman always talk to herself?” asked one masked individual behind her.

Jay whipped around. “Excuse me, but I’m talking to the Ikuuty here.” She poked the person in the chest with her fan. “And why aren’t you dancing with me? What’s with that? You can talk about me, but you don’t ask me to dance? Do you know how many places I’ve blown up to get this outfit?”

Ruby was working her way through her second drink when she heard, above the buzz of coversation, a familiar voice (something about blowing things up?) She headed towards the voice,pushing through the crowd in her way. Sure enough, it was Jay. Of course. Ruby slid herself in front of the masked stranger(who was being jabbed none too gently) getting herself jabbed in the process.

Ruby grabbed Jay's hand "Let's dance, shall we?" Then proceeded to pull her away from the curious looks she was now getting. Once they were twirling on the dance floor, she said "it's probably not a good idea to blab about blowing things up, especially here. We don't know who else may be here"

Arleigh stood off to the side of the ballroom, watching the crowd. Near her, her two companions were playfully fighting. Adaryn was a crow with red eyes. Crevon was a red fox. Adaryn was currently hovering in the air, while Crevon was up on his hind legs, trying to hit her with his paws. As he got frustrated at his inability to land a hit, a little hint of steam started coming from his open mouth. Arleigh noticed and quietly said to him, “Be careful with the flames. We don’t want to get noticed by the wrong people.” As she continued to watch her companions, she was reminded of recent events.

Captain Asher, or as Jay called him, the birdman, had just raided the ship, and of course Jay’s first response had been to blow everything up. Usually, Arleigh would enjoy taking part in such an act, but Jay failed to realize that if they set the Aurora on fire, they would not get their treasure back. As Jay started arguing with the rest of the crew, Arleigh watched the Aurora sail away. She sighed, turned, threw Jay over her shoulder, and carried her off to the brig. Jay really needed to calm down. Arleigh walked to the ship’s helm as Jay screamed about blowing up the birdman and ordered the crew to get back to work.

Arleigh smiled beneath her mask as she looked back over the crowd. Jay was a complete weirdo and useless as captain. But, Arleigh didn’t care that all the captain’s duties fell on her. (She was the first mate after all.) She didn’t care because Jay, as much of a weirdo as she was, had gotten them out of some pretty tough situations. For better, or for worse, Arleigh would follow Jay anywhere.

As Country was making her best attempt to win over the small group she began to notice others in the vicinity watching them. She didn't know if this could benefit her in some way or another, but if they weren't joining right in with the others maybe... just maybe they knew something that would be beneficial. They all seemed to be watching the "leader" and she knew her hunch that he was hiding something was correct.

The odd one that talked to herself intrigued Country the most... "I'll have to be sure to go visit THAT ONE next," she thought to herself. She didnt know what to think about the one that stared longingly towards Miss Crazy, it seemed odd to keep a crow and fox as companions... she knew if given the chance the fox would do more than just PLAY with that crow, her inner vulpine blood wishing she herself could take a bat at the annoying little bird. It was borderline torture in her opinion to not just allow the fox one small snack... eh who knows maybe they are one of those weird animal couples you hear about.

"Focus girl," there was so much going on, so much to think about she had to keep her mind from wandering to far from her goal!

Something was going to happen soon... she knew it would come down to 2 options, stay here and make "friends" or move along to watch from afar and gather more intel on what this little group was up to. She felt in her heart that she should stay, but that part of her that craved all things shiny and thrill of her profession was growing impatient.

A sign, I need a sign...

While Umbra was still talking to Webby, another team gathered. Unknown to him, their enemy was really forming as well. The little deer only hoped that they'd get at least an equal force. Afterall their captain was REALLY good at hiding loot. Especially when they'd taken plenty of prizes. He let a timid gaze wander. No, he could not find his leader, but therefore he also didn't see, that there now where 3 of their crew, leaving only two that needed to answer his call.

Before finding a new partner not wanting to be conspicous occupying all of Umbra's time... she whispers i found [itemname=Sinuous Crystallite] on my way in... can we use this?

The white haired boy nodded. "I think so. It will certainly help us blending in. I gathered these Crystallites are the latest trend on Atebus?" He had to ask. After all, Atebus was not a place he would visit when given a chance. Delphi he liked and the Sacred Lands.

Not sure Umbra.... Everyone is mining and then dancing... I figured i would do the same... and found it in the caves....

"Oh, you can mine?" Admiration shone in his clear eyes. Mining seemed like such an exhausting task. Plus he wasn't really in a condition to do any hard work. His specialization was more on the intelligence side. "I'm sure you'll hone your skill during our travels."

Asher paled at the announcement of his species. It was so casual. No one should know unless... Oh shells.

"I'm sorry, but I have to go," he hissed quickly as his cover had been blown. "Regroup, I'll find a way to get back to you."

He leaned in so hopefully the fox couldn't hear over the sounds. "I'll be sure to pass a message be careful. Our enemies are here."

[SPOILER] - Due to participation issues, this is on HOLD until Tuesday. The first puzzle will be posted FOR EVERYONE at 5PM EST, so don't be late![/SPOILER]

Country watched with delight as the creature began to squirm uncomfortably. She had struck a nerve, although she hadn't meant to scare him off without gaining much needed information so quickly. He really was on edge. As he hurried away she took her chance to confront the others she had been watching before they too left the dance hall.

Approaching "Miss Crazy" she couldn't help but having a sly grin from ear to ear. Without any hesitation she was upfront and to the point. "So pretty lady, I know he is hiding something, I want in on this score, I don't care why you're after him but I want in on it. I myself have a plan, call over your buddies, let's get to work before his crew gets too far away."

Lovecraft walks in out of the storm.
"Man, I wish this weather would make up its mind. Cold. Warm. Tornado. Oh my."
Looks around to see where she seems to have landed herself this time. Last time she answered a random ping somewhere she ended up becoming a member on SilverLegends and in a place called Wayward Squirrel. She spots a dear old friend, Lord Ashe. "FINALLY!" she says at him. "You know Lady believed I had you killed. Kill someone once and be blamed forever when someone mysteriously vanishes." She grabs one of the random servers that seems to be wandering about. "DRINK! NOW! or...well you know." her eyes glint with evil thoughts. The server quickly wiggles out of her grasp and runs off. "So what have we all been up to?"

Reaper stumbles in, flicking her wrist and drying her hair before swiping a bottle from behind the bar and plopping herself down next to

"What are you yelling about now wife?" She snickers at her own crappy joke (because really, they're both a little unsure if that marriage back in the squirrel was binding and hoping it wasn't doesn't necessarily make it not so).

Lovecraft rolls her eyes. "I'm pretty sure that marriage was not real. Walking around a table yelling YES! I DO! while drunk does not count." She stops and thinks. "However, we are both drunk so often during these things who knows we make the prefect couple." she starts laughing.