conversations: human
conversations:  Outside the royal castle of the Mushroom Kingdom, everything is in disarray.  Toads are running around, screaming, wailing at the loss of their beloved Princess.  Peach was taken three days ago, and a team lead by Sir Mario, The Red Knight, has been dispatched to find her.  Despite Prime Minister Toadsworth's faith in the legendary hero, the acting ruler, Princess Daisy, wants to take every possible precaution.  Which is what brings you to the palace today.
  
  The Toad guards, the only people not panicking, let you across the bridge over the moat, and through the double doors at the entrance of the castle.  The interior of the main hall is painted in bright colors, shades of blue and green and white, with stained glass windows depicting past Princesses who have ruled over all Toadkind.  A set of stairs leads to the second level, with another pair of double doors at the top.  These doors open, and a Royal Toad woman comes out.  She's pretty, with long light brown hair, and blue eyes.  She wears a yellow dress trimmed with orange, and has a small tiara perched atop her head, and a sapphire necklace gleaming at her throat.  You all recognize her as the one who summoned you:  Princess Daisy.
  
  She smiles warmly as she descends the stairs, meeting you at the base.  Her smile is more directed at Luigi than the others.
  
   "I'm so glad all of you could make it!  My poor cousin Peach needs all the help she can get.  And I just know that you're the right people for the job!" 
  
  Despite the circumstances, she seems upbeat.
  
   "And no matter what happens, you'll of course be paid for your troubles." 
  
  Her smile widens and a pair of Toads come out, carrying a large yellow box marked with a question mark on all sides.  She opens the top and reveals it to be filled with Gold Coins.
conversations: josienoms:
conversations: human
conversations:  Sif bows before the princess.  The young hylian carries a harp, a bow and a quiver upon her back, a rapier upon her belt, and an ocarina on her hip.   Adorning her chest is the symbol of the Sheikah, and her face is covered.
  
   "PRincess Daisy, are we suspecting Bowser Koopa as the culprit? The history between him and your people is well documented." 
conversations: Kell_tamer:
conversations: human
conversations:  Mani, his face almost comically grave, nods at the bard's comment. " Well yeah. What has it been. Ten? Fifteen times now? " Still, that seemed to easy. And that would certainly be His Redness's first guess. " But that must have been the good Sirs first guess. What are you thinking? Some Inkling prank? Ganon worshipers? An unannounced vacation? 
conversations: OracleofSilence:
conversations: human
conversations:  Rada's jewelry clinks angrily as she shakes her head.  "His Majesty is just as concerned with the princess's disappearance as all of you are. That very fact is why I am here." 
conversations: JonRG:
conversations: human
conversations:  Dave stands quietly towards the back of the group, doing his best to be unobtrusive. No easy task for a koppa of his size. He coughs softly and raises a claw to venture a guess.
   "Past incidents would indicate the koopa kingdom as a likely culprit." 
  He does his best to not acknowledge the irony.
   "I may need to recuse myself as a result." 
conversations: Obscurejones:
conversations: human
conversations:  Rada lays a gloved hand on Dave's shell in a reassuring fashion. She knew what he was going through... all too well.
conversations: JonRG:
conversations: human
conversations:  Daisy frowns slightly, but doesn't let her upbeat demeanor fade.
  
   "That's an exaggeration, of course.  It only happened once before, during the war.  All signs are pointing to Bowser, that much is true.  And our spies show that he's massing an army on the borders of our Kingdom.  He's even deploying his airships, which he rarely takes into battle unless it's something very serious." 
  
  She smiles and turns to Rada.
  
   "And we're very thankful for that fact.  Please, convey my thanks to King Ganondorf, and Ihope this show of solidarity can lead to a better understanding and further cooperation between our peoples." 
conversations: josienoms:
conversations: human
conversations:  Dave nods gratefully to Rada but his calm evaporates at the mention of his father's airships. A faint rasp of claw on scale can be heard as he nervously scratches at his wrists.
conversations: Obscurejones:
conversations: human
conversations:  The Green Knight stands still, offering the princess the proper respect as she descends the stairs.  As she tells the group, the team he'll be with on this mission, about what happened, he strokes his mustache thoughtfully.  All signs pointed to Bowser, which would most assuredly be his brother's thought as well.  Then again, Mario was usually right.  Luigi nods, trying to offer Daisy reassurance.   "Don't-a worry, Princess.  We'll-a bring her home again."   He smiles softly.   "If Bowser is-a up to his old tricks, it could-a be a disaster.  The last thing we'd-a want is another war." 
conversations: horus42:
conversations: human
conversations:  The scratching stops suddenly as the Green Knight speaks. Twin curls of smoke lazily trail toward the ceiling as the Koopa prince rankles.
  "Though I suspect his involvement, it's-a little-a foolish-a to represent the actions of a reigning monarch as mere tricks, Knight. Though I suppose your family is more known for making its name on the broken shells of my people rather then your tact-a or-a diplomacy-a."
conversations: Obscurejones:
conversations: human
conversations:  "You tell him, Dave,"  Rada chimes in. Her golden eyes alight with mirth.  "The new regime has shown itself quite adept at marginalizing and oppressing the so-called 'less civilized' races." 
conversations: JonRG:
conversations: human
conversations:  Mani freezes briefly. " Uh... Princess. A thought occurs. You confirmed that the Red Knight suspects King Bowser to the perpetrator. Is he uh... planning on entering the Koopa Kingdom? "
  
  Despite his concerns, he smiles at the koopa's comment " And it is a feeling I can sympathize with. "
conversations: OracleofSilence:
conversations: human
conversations:  Daisy's smile falters for a fraction of a second.
  
   "Those "less civilized" races, Koopas and Goombas, for instance, oppressed my people for hundreds of years.  I may be a Princess now, but I was born a slave.  It's... regrettable that many among us haven't treated them well, but...  It would be foolish to show weakness so soon in our new nation's history.  I will never be a slave again, Princess Rada." 
  
  She then moves on as if nothing had happened.
  
   "Sir Mario will not cross the border into the Koopa Kingdom unless Bowser's troops cross ours first.  Like Sir Luigi said, the last thing we want is another war." 
conversations: josienoms:
conversations: human
conversations:  Princess Lily's brow furrows slightly.  "I have trouble thinking that the koopas would want a war either.  Full-scale warfare isn't really desirable for any country, is it?  Are there any leads on other possible suspects?" 
conversations: Lilyflower:
conversations: human
conversations:  Rada smirks slightly, then offers a solemn nod. Never apologize. It shows weakness.  "Team Rocket likes to manipulate other nations behind the scenes for its own benefit, and their proclivity for abduction is well-known."  Oh, to imagine the look on Giovanni's face...
conversations: JonRG:
conversations: human
conversations:  Luigi looks at Dave, sadly.   "I'm not-a proud of-a what I did.  But I did-a what I had to do.  War makes-a monsters of us all.  For-a now, I'm-a more concerned with-a the rescue.  And I think-a you should-a be too.  Peach was-a the woman who raised you.  She's-a practically your-a mother." 
  
  When Rada speaks, he answers her.   "Team-a Rocket?  Is there-a any evidence that they're-a behind this?  Princess,"  he asks, turning to Daisy,  "Were there-a any witnesses to-a the attack?  Could-a we speak-a to them?" 
conversations: horus42:
conversations: human
conversations:  Daisy nods, solemnly.
  
   "Yes, of course.  If you'll all follow me..." 
  
  She leads you into a room where two young Toads are sitting at a table, drinking cups of hot tea, and still trembling.
  
   "Gentlemen, could you please go over your story one more time?  I'd very much appreciate it." 
  
  One of the Toads nods.
  
   "It was terrifying...  They came in through the window, right outside the Princess's bedroom door.  We tried to fight them off, but they knocked us both out.  I didn't get a good look at them, but they were dressed in all black.  I think they were humans, but there was a Koopa with them, I think.  I only got a glimpse of its shell before I passed out." 
conversations: josienoms:
conversations: human
conversations:  Rada steps forward, towering over the two Toads.  "Did the attackers say anything that might reveal their identities? Try to think. It will help us rescue your princess." 
conversations: JonRG:
conversations: human
conversations:  The Toad guard shakes his head.
  
   "I didn't hear them say anything before I was knocked out.  But I did find this when I woke up." 
  
  He places a rather large blue berry on the table.
  
   
   Spoiler: OOC 
  Anyone who wants to can make a survival check to identify it.
   
conversations: josienoms:
conversations: human
conversations:  Rada stares intently at the two toads, then the berry.
  
   
   Spoiler 
   Survival:   (1d20+2)[ 21 ] 
   
conversations: JonRG:
conversations: human
conversations:  Rada identifies it as an Oran Berry, native to the Kanto Archipelago.  It's often used in medicines used to heal Pokemon.
conversations: josienoms:
conversations: human
conversations:  "It's an Oran Berry,"  Rada states.  "Native to the Kanto Archipelago and almost exclusively used in Pokemon medicines." 
conversations: JonRG:
conversations: human
conversations:  Luigi frowns thoughtfully.   "The evidence points-a to Team-a Rocket.  Or perhaps an alliance between-a Bowser and-a Giovanni.  Maybe we should-a go to Kanto and-a find out for ourselves." 
conversations: horus42:
conversations: human
conversations:  " Plenty of shelled Pokemon as well. It's not like Koopa's are alone in that. "
conversations: OracleofSilence:
conversations: human
conversations:  Sif glances at the oran berry.   She could have sworn she read about them before....
  
   
   Spoiler: medicine check.   
  wisdom roll +2 +1 for jack of all trades.
   (1d20+3)[ 14 ] 
   
  
   "Oran Berry... Isn't that used for its ability to dull pain and help with coagulation?   Would that mean they probably expected a strong resistance?" If they had to use one there might be a trail we can follow of any wounded?" 
conversations: Kell_tamer:
conversations: human
conversations:  Luigi nods at the analysis of the berry.   "It's-a definitely possible.  And a good-a place to-a start."   He picks up the berry.   "We can-a ask around town, see if-a anyone saw any humans carrying-a these." 
conversations: horus42:
conversations: human
conversations:  "Doesn't even need to be be Team Rocket, ya' know" Dia yawns. " Just needs to be a kantoese with a good mercenary streak ".
  
  Affecting a contemplative expression, she pronounces " ya' know, I think the taverns would be the best place to start our search ".
conversations: Tome:
conversations: human
conversations:  Rada nods.  "Good call. We should go before witnesses start to forget details." 
conversations: JonRG:
conversations: human
conversations:  Daisy smiles and claps her hands.
  
   "Then it's decided!  Go on, and good luck!" 
  
  As you all start to leave, she reaches out and grabs Luigi's hand.  She pulls him into a kiss, them lets him go.
  
   "Come home safe..." 
  
  At Dia's suggestion, the group makes it's first stop at the nearest tavern.  It seems like a more upper class place, being close to the castle.  Most of the patrons are common toads, but there are a few Royal Toads as well, along with a few travelers passing through on business.  You see a Hylian man and a Goron sitting at a table near the back, a Kantoese woman feeding small bits of bread to a Totodile, and a Kong at the bar, wearing a red tie.
conversations: josienoms:
conversations: human
conversations:  Luigi returns the kiss, and has a dopey grin on his face after the fact.   "I-a will.  Don't-a worry." 
  
  Once he gets to the tavern with the others, he looks at the crowd and says,  "Do you-a think we should-a ask the locals first?  Or start-a with the obvious-a choice?"   He nods in the general direction of the Kantoese woman.
conversations: horus42:
conversations: human
conversations:  Dia, already at the bar, casts a look over her shoulder and shrugs.
  
  " Oi barkeep " she hollers from her stool, " you got anything that doesn't taste like watered down piss? It's already midday and I'm still sober ".
  
  " Maybe just asking if anyone knows about the berries I guess? Can't imagine they travel well, and it's a fair distance from Kanto to here ".
conversations: Tome: