SPF - The HypnoMechanical Theater, in Brazil

[Evil Scientist]

"As far as possible and further. We are looking for the most out of reach teritories, untouched by civilization, to bring them Enlightment," says Brisbane with a theatrical touch, "with the good doctor's invention."

He looks at his net - it's empty apart from a few leaves and a half-dead all too plain and common butterfly. Not his thing, butterflies. Now he starts feeling quite foolish, standing before the well-armed Richards. He only felt this uncomfortable when his nanny was dressing him in childhood. He will have to show just how well he can handle a gun. In which he indeed excells.

"Let's head back to the city, shall we? Or, if you prefer, we can continue your search for that jaguar. McLusky", he turnsto his servant, "fetch me my riffle!"

[J.K.Mosher]

LOL . . .

"I must say," Richards takes a long drag on his smoke, "sounds interesting, but I think it's time to head back
in to town. What the Rail Company has asked me to find ain't no animal to go traipsing after through heavy
brush in the dark." Richards drops the remains of his smoke and crushes it with his heel, "but if your game,
and we can have the help of a couple of your boys maybe we can do a little scout around tomorrow. Sound
like a plan?"

[Onix]

One of Brisbane's guides is chatting with Richards' guide in Portuguese for a little bit. At first you don't even notice, but slowly their tone changes. Both men start to become more serious in their conversation but even this barely passes as noteworthy. Then one says the word "Mapinguari" and it catches both of your attention you've heard the word before but you can't remember why. Richards' guide becomes a little unnerved and shakes his head while Brisbane's guide becomes more earnest and mimes some grotesque motions. Richards' man's eyes almost fall out of his head and he nods slowly. He looks around and starts backing up looking at the rest of the party when he suddenly turns away and breaks into a run slipping into the jungle.

Brisbane's man (really should name these guys) turns to you and says to Richards "Sir you need to leave this creature alone, it is no Jaguar."

[J.K.Mosher]

And I was just about to name my guy!Son of a . . .

Richards watches his man make the break and instinctively starts to reach for the colt holstered on his
chest, but then stops. No this isn't the army, this isn't the war . . . "Son of a! Bob! Bob! get your lily livered,
arse back . . ." Richards knows it's too late and that the guide the rail company had provided him was gone.

Snorting in contempt and a slight bit of disgust Richards walks over and picks up the discarded
Weatherby (elephant gun)and it's ammo bandoleer. Giving the weapon a quick check over, Richards unloads
its twin barrels without even looking as he addresses Brisbane's man.

"It's no Jag huh? Then what is it? Cause you see the Rail company is promising me good money to take down
whatever it is that is slaughtering the workers . . . guys like you and Bob. So educate me a little if you don't mind
partner . . . I would likes to know why I should break my word, and let young men and women suffer for it."

The dead glare of Richards' at Brisbane's man hides nothing. He is angry, actually a fairways beyond angry at the
insinuation that he's not good enough to bag this animal, and even more so that he should break his word.

[Onix]

"Senior, the wounds on the railroad men. . . no Jaguar could do that, I've only seen that on cattle. The Mapinguari usually carries off cattle but stays away from men. They must be moving too far into the jungle and have entered it's territory. Senior, your guns will do you no good, the Mapinguari cannot be killed with bullets or arrows."

[Evil Scientist]

(Let's call the remaining guides Pedro and Esteban)

Brisbane now starts to recall what that Mapenguin-Mapenu..-whatever thing was, remebmering some crazy hunting stories his fellow hunters tell after the third scotch. And he is more and more interested.

"No bullets and arrows you say... I know the bullets and arrows you use around here! They are as useful as throwing snowballs at a tree," he says, even though Pedro and Esteban might have never seen snow in their lives, "but our weaponry was constructed by the best engineers of the world!"

[Onix]

So Pedro says "That may be, Senior Brisbane. I cannot deny that, but I have seen men try and hunt the Mapinguari but none have ever been successful. I can take you to the place Senior Bob wanted to go but we will have to be very careful. We will want something to protect from the smell."

That comment triggers something in Brisbane, a story about Yeti in the Amazon, they sat around the parlor drinking and telling ghost stories when one of them told about some kind of Yeti that he'd seen in the jungle with long red hair. He said that it let out shriek that shook his bowels loose. The pale look on his face made Brisbane wonder if he was half serious. That's when he said the natives called the creature. . . Mapinguari.

[J.K.Mosher]

"Smell?" Richards had taken the time to cool off, but only slightly, "I'm not worried about any smell, I've gutted
some of the rankest critters known to man." Richards indicates the largest tooth sitting proudly in the band of
of his hat, "This here is from the White Bear of Canadas . . . 18 feet, 2000 pounds of pure carnivore. I took
it with one shot, in cold that would freeze your blood . . . cut it open, the dang beast had been eatin' men
and rotted whale . . . smell don't bother me. You show me this place. You take me right to it and I'll shows you
real quick why there ain't a thing on this earth that fly, walk or crawls that I ain't killed."

With that tirade Richards snorts, still obviously riled up, turns on his heels in perfect military fashion and starts
the long hike back towards town.

"You show me that place and I'll kill this beast, or by God I'll die tryin' !"

[Onix]

So this has altered the story I was planning significantly but I think I can make this all work very nicely.

That evening the play begins. The flyers have all been set up and a reasonably sized crowd gathers. Richards isn't a theater goer but he decides to see what these flat foots are up to. He figures he'll stick around long enough to get his hands on this beast, if it is the creature he's looking for.

Anne rushes over to Brisbane, "Oh Mr. Brisbane I overheard what happened to you in the jungle! I'm so glad you're well, it would have been simply horrid if anything had happened to you. Please promise me you'll be more careful!"

The Hypnomechanical Theater is set and ready to go. The play for tonight will be Helen of Troy. A makeshift curtain is set in front of the cobbled together stage. The mayor of the city has even shown up, Gilberto Paes. He is a portly man and although he is an outwardly charming man he seems to have a callous cruel side when he deals with his assistants.

Mr. Paes pushes "back stage" and approaches Paddington. "Senior Paddington! It is an honor to have you in our city. I have heard of you as I receive a copy of the London papers and I have read your reviews. I will be looking forward to your performance."

Drakeknight, this will be an Acting skill test. Select five methods and tricks. The better your Charm is the better you come across in your roles, the better your Perception the better you look in your outfits, the better your Intelligence score, the better you remember your lines.

[Drakeknight]

Well, I've had worse set-ups. Faced worse crowds. They're going to love me. No need to bother with sticking to script. I have raw charisma to carry me.

Attention to Detail
Voice
Expression
Imitation
Disguise