The Butcher's Masquerade
Overview
The Butcher's Masquerade is the climactic event of Floor 6 — a mandatory party held by the high elves at their castle. The top 50 crawlers and remaining hunters were teleported there whether they consented or not. While the anti-violence seal held, violence was forbidden. Carl's group used the cover of the party to launch a coordinated castle assault.
Floor
6 — The Hunting Grounds
Chapters
65–74
The Party
- Emceed by Theobold, an elf footman in a white dress tuxedo with gold lining.
- Divided into Ballroom A (crawlers — gold trays) and the hunters' section (black trays).
- Featured: a pet show (judged by Empress D'Nadia and two others), a talent show, food and refreshment, dancing, and a prize booth for trophies (hunter hands / crawler scalps).
- Queen Imogen was scheduled to attend once she arrived from her chambers.
- Crawlers and hunters mingled like "boys and girls at a middle school dance" — separated by unspoken hostility.
Notable Attendees
| Character | Notes |
|---|---|
| Carl | Managed multiple crises simultaneously |
| Princess Donut | Presented Mongo for the pet show; assessed the stage with theatrical disdain |
| Katia | Held back from attacking Eva |
| Vrah | Threatened Carl directly; warned about the Dark Hive's vengeance |
| Empress D'Nadia | Judge at the pet show |
| Eva Sigrid | Appeared at the party; 50+ player killer skulls, 4 hunter-killer marks |
| Lucia Mar | Behaving erratically; huddled in a corner shaking |
| Signet | Teleported in by Apito (the AI), not Carl's doing |
| Florin | Had to be restrained from confronting Lucia Mar |
The Assault Plan
While the party proceeded, Carl's team ran a simultaneous castle assault:
- Britney used Slate Butterflies to disable a warning light — the signal that the anti-violence seal had been bypassed
- Changeling agents (via the Sledge's group and the secret underground entrance) infiltrated the sentinel towers to create docking points for the Twister airship
- Bomo's team conducted a looting mission
- Gideon's external team observed and prepared to assault the castle front if needed
- Signet's appearance (AI-triggered, not planned) collapsed the original plan to use her as a distraction to draw Imogen out
Outcome
The party ended when the castle began to be destroyed by the assault. The structure was teleported to Floor 9, taking with it: Kiwi (pregnant, in bear form), Signet's remaining forces, Ferdinand (Imogen's ally), and Tina. This triggered the 4-way cage fight.