[Nexus] Inside 56

[Rebonack]

http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq40/happyturtle-avs/avatars/insideflag2.png
Flag of Inside, flown over all Remnant and Government Installations

Current Events: The sun is gradually going dark. Someone had better figure out how to fix that before everyone dies.

The title is a misnomer, of course. No doubt the moniker of this place was settled on after a brief conversation that started with, 'Wouldn't it be funny if...?'. But now the name has stuck.

But what is this place, you ask?

Inside is everything within the City Walls. As opposed to Outside, which is everything without. This strange, whimsical city is the center of a planar Nexus, a crossing point between all possible (and some impossible) worlds. One can find just about anything in this wondrous place, dreams that defy imagination and terrors that freeze the soul. People and whole places are regularly drawn into the Nexus, added to the chaotic melting pot of all realities.

The city is surrounded by defensive walls, with an artificially and accidentally created moat outside the walls, a moat that has been diverted into a river-channel for one many bodies of water flowing through Inside. A gap in the walls and a bridge allow for entrance into the city proper, the main gate opening up to welcome newcomers Inside.

Welcome, traveler, to the City of Inside. The only boundaries you find within are the bounds of your own imagination.


Rules


Rules

1:Please Spoiler any Fanservice in this thread! It is accepted that there will of course be some, and that romance and curtains happen. However, please be courteous to others and spoiler any scene that goes on for a little while, and if it reaches the point, curtain. This is so you can stay within forum rules, as well as letting those uninterested in the scene, pass by. Thank you. :smallsmile:

2:Godmodding is not permissible! As stated in the rules in the FFRP Central Thread, (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=166066), godmodding is generally not allowed without permission. If you're shaky on what might be, and what might not be godmodding, please follow the above link.

3:The DOOM-Shield. Inside is currently equipped with a techno-magic shield that mitigates "global" effects to a survivable level. This is to prevent anyone from simply killing all the NPCs, or affecting the entire city. For example, a plot that envelops the entire city in sub-arctic temperatures, will find that the cold isn't as bad as it should be, and survivable.

4:Remnant. Please remember when doing any plots or large events, that even though it has it's own thread, Remnant (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=211872), the Inside Police Force and Army, is located in Inside, and may respond to events, or may be asked to respond to them.

4:All Inside-Wide/Nexus-Wide plots need to be brought up in OOC first! We all want to have the entire city be cast into a frozen wasteland from time to time, but such things need to be brought up in OOC first, to allow players plenty of warning, and so people don't feel like anything is being forced upon them that they don't want to RP.

5:Inside is not Space! Anything involving massive spaceships, meteors, satellites, Lasers From Space, and the like, do not belong in this thread. Few PCs have the ability to fight off an orbital bombardment, so it is considered unfair to be able to call down such things inside Inside. It can be assumed that the Doom Shield prevents such things from occurring. The place for these sorts of things should be in Outside, or another thread all together.

Zones and Streets
Zones:
In the Zone(s): The City of Inside is separated into three zones that represent the general threat level color coded for your convenience.

The Blue Zones are upper-class, well to do portions of Inside. You're pretty darn safe here.

The Grey Zones consists of the more traditionally urban parts of inside. Certainly no gated community, but it isn't immediately life threatening either.

The Red Zones represents the parts of the City that are degenerate, destitute, or downright dangerous. Sometimes all of the above. If you're poking around a Red Zone be ready to get jumped by Orks or ghouls or killer robots or something.

Streets:

Can you tell me how to get, how to get to Hodgepodge Street? The City of Inside also has a number of Streets. The Streets aren't a street in the literal sense, but rather portions of the City with a particular theme. While one can find anything anywhere in the City there are none the less areas were certain settings predominate. The Riftline monorail public transit system allows for quick and easy access between the many Streets of Inside. Best of all it's fast and free!

If you have an idea for a Street feel free to suggest it in the OOC thread. :smallsmile:

Hodgepodge Street: The generically modern setting! Hodgepodge Street is perhaps the most plastic of the Streets, displaying a decent mix of all settings, though modern predominates. Generally speaking most locations without a Street name will be found here. The most commonly seen locations here are the Streets and the Slums. Occasionally The Rooftops if someone is feeling daring.

Steele Street: Need a Victorian location with all sorts of choking industrial pollution? Need an always-night urban landscape with superficial resemblance to 1800s London? Well Steel Street is by far the best place Inside to come down with Black Lung Disease! With spooky stinky fog, gross waterways, and the occasional murderer who may or may not be spring-heeled. Come for the fish and chips! Stay for the gritty atmosphere!

Arkham Street: Spanning 1920s-1930s style fantastic horror, Arkham Street is home of such spooky locations as Philip Memorial Library, the haunted Carter House, and Dunwich Park. Ah Arkham Street, where the clustering gambled roofs sway and sag above the attics where witches hid from the king's men in the dark olden days of Town. The Town is gone, but the witches are still here! And the monsters, and the cultists, and the regular folks just trying not to lose their minds.

Metropolis Square: It's Atom Age or Deco Punk or whatever you want to call it! 1930-50s era retro science fiction with ray guns and mad scientists and nuclear powered robots who just want to learn the meaning of love. This part of Inside is known for its slick hats, era cars, smooth jazz, a robotic workforce, and square-jawed heroes.

The Skyway: High up above the tops of the tallest skyscrapes one can find The Skyway! A high future urban cityscape of floating buildings of glass and chrome and steel and plastic. And a space port too, if you feel like leaving the planet for whatever reason. Think Jetsons with more foot paths. Riftline, of course, grants access to The Skyway to for those not blessed with flying cars.

Need some cyberpunk action? You got some cyberpunk action! The gritty future of cyber-criminals clashing against government and corporate forces! With cyborgs and hackers and stuff! Grungy urban sprawl, a decaying job market, and an oppressed underclass mark this area of Inside. Burnt Chromes Street is the distopian counter-point to The Skyway's more optimistic vision of what the future holds.

Market Street: Market Street is the ye olde portion of Inside, complete with bards, fools, open market places, and the occasional damsel in distress. While products of any age can be found in the sprawling street booths everything is done ye olde style-e. If you need a chase scene to crash through a fruit-cart this is the place to do it.

Deadwood Street: The wild, wild west. Located on the edge of Inside this is the western part of the city. And that means any kind of western. From spegetti to steampunk to magical. Whether you need to hang around a saloon, have a duel a high noon, or go riding off into the sunset Deadwood Street is your best bet.

PokéStreet: By popular demand! This one should be obvious enough. PokéCenters and PokéMarts and PokéGyms and PokéParks and PokéNarwhals and everything else Poké-related! Great place to visit if you feel like watching some adorable animals beat the tar out of each other. Just watch out for the tall grass. You never know what might be lurking in there.

Carousel Court: So much pony. Carousel Court contains the majority of the City's pony population as well as a healthy helping of non-pony quadrupedal sapient races. Ranging from quaint thatched roof cottages to the towering mane offices of Roseluck Agrifirm to the opulent stables of the well-to-do Carousel Court has it all. If you're looking for amenities for people who lack hands or just feel like bucking the norm trot on by and enjoy some pony-style hospitality.

Locations
The Red Zones (Player: Rebonack)
Just because here are some nice quick descriptions of the various Red Zones that see some degree of use. Or at least the ones that I'll run NPCs in if I get prodded at or notice someone's PC poking around there. I don't control everything in these locations and other people are free to run things here, just keep the Lethality level in mind. Anyone exploring one of the Red Zones will find caches of magical or technological trinkets to make the danger worth their while. The higher the lethality rating the better the loot!

The Slums: (Lethality Level Low) Accessed from Hodgepodge Street. The Slums are a generally urban area of decay and disrepair. It's a pretty good place to run into muggers, thugs, vampires, random monsters, and other generically nasty things. People live in squalor here, but no one can really figure out WHY since the rest of the City is available for habitation and has fewer flesh eating mildew patches.

The Mispelled Cemetary: (Lethality Level Variable) Accessed form Market Street. The Mispelled Cemetary is fully of the restless spirits of the unded who have been ripped from there eternal rest due to the endless propagation of spelling errors on the Internet. The unded in the cemetary proper are pretty week, but catacombs below the cemetary can be accessed through the various crypts on the surface. The deeper into the catacombs ones travels the nastier the unded get. Beware the Eternal Bone Horrers.

The Dungeons of Doom: (Lethality Level Moderate) Accessed from the Sewers. The Dungeons of Doom consists of a seemingly endless descent of themed dungeon floors filled with generally silly monsters and puzzles. But don't let the silliness fool you, the place is plenty deadly if you get too careless. Remember to pay proper respects to giant marble busts of science fiction and fantasy authors that might block your path.

The Radiation Pit: (Lethality Level Moderate) Accessed from Metropolis Square. The Radiation Pit is exactly what it sounds like. A blasted crater full of radiation and the sorts of things you would expect to arise in 50's era films about radiation. So mostly giant irradiated arthropods. The danger here, aside from the radiation mutants, is mostly from environmental hazards. Make sure to pack plenty of Rad-Away.

Bombed Out Zone: (Lethality Level Moderate) Accessed from Hodgepodge Street. A ruined urban landscape of burned out cars, shattered skyscrapers, and crumbling overpasses. It is the site of an ongoing three way battle between zombies, killer robots, and aliens. Getting caught between the factions is pretty dangerous, but scavenging the remains after a battle can yield some great loot.

Black Goat Woods: (Lethality Level High) Accessed from Arkham Street. Black Goat Woods is a park full of awful eldritch abominations. If you go in un-warded you will almost certainly die a horrible death if you're fortunate. With proper warding by the Elder Sign this Red Zone is just dangerous and maddening rather than a complete death trap. If you need to collect some tomes of forbidden lore or repulsive idols try snooping around here. Just remember that Cthulhu eats 2d6 investigators per round.

Everfree Park: (Lethality Level High) Accessed from Carousel Court. This is a wilderness within the heart of the City that hates you and wants you to die. The laws of physics and magic shift here chaotically and without warning. Powerful monsters roam the trees hunting for anyone foolish enough to stumble in. Everything that exists in this park, even the very air you're breathing, is a malevolent force that seeks your destruction. Enter at your own risk.

Azik's Enchantments(Player: Harnel, Grey Zone)

Those in the area will hear a rumbling as the Nexus begins pulling in something larger than just a single person. Reality bends, and the shape of portal opens above a certain street corner. For a sickening moment, nothing happens, but then things start coming out of the portal - all of them are bricks, building up finally to a door and a roof, with tiny windows built in. There's even a large chimney sticking out of the center of this strange, conical building that begins puffing rainbow smoke almost immediately.

A creature steps out the front door, though many wouldn't consider it a creature - He is a warforged, a living golem. Covered in what appears to be adamantine plates, he looks up and down the street, his longcoat catching in the breeze. as it flutters, one can see a multitude of wands, schema, and scrolls all attached to several belts around his waist and upper legs. On his eyes he wears a pair of blue tinted shades, despite his lack of ears, and the metal orbs that serve as his eyes glow green behind these spectacles. He looks up and down the street. He doesn't seem to be particularly disturbed by the change in location, but he does take the time to call out, in a metallic voice:

"Azik's Enchantments is open for business! Come find a potion, a wand, a scroll to fit any need! We have spellbooks for beginners and experts! Weapons of all shapes and sizes, and armor unlike anything you've ever seen! Come find what you're looking for here!"

And then he heads back inside. So much work, so little time. Inside is as strange as outside, with magic trinkets lining the walls on shelves, but all behind the counter, to keep any stupid kid with the idea to steal something from doing so. You can find just about anything magical here, and that which you can't find, Azik the Warforged can make within a more than reasonable timeframe.

Emergency Bunkers

Eight bunker-like structures in a ring-like arrangement at about the midpoint between the walls (or the docks) and the center of the city have been completed.

The interior of each is rather dull, rather befitting a bunker, but there are underground areas beneath the visible bunkers. These are similarly dull and military-styled, but they also act as hospitals.

These are mostly designed with emergencies such as shelling in mind, and are usually closed.

Emergency Clinics
Like the bunkers the clinics are spread through-out the City and are equipped with technology akin to a modern emergency room. Since there's no magical healing available the speed of recovery is going to be noticeably lower than what is available at one of Inside's many temples. However their availability makes them absolutely vital in the application of life-saving care.

Erin's Emporium (Player: The Bushranger, Grey Zone)

Construction Gnomes have been hard at work renovating a small store along one of the various merchantile roads. Well, it was small. Now it's bigger on the inside.

And filled with every sort of weaponry imaginable, from across the multiverse. From blaster carbines to P-90s, surface-to-air missiles to ballistas, zats to nunchucks, they're all here.

Is that a siege crossbow sitting in the corner?

Evolution Industries Headquarters + Factories (Player: Darkcomet, Blue Zone)
The headquarters of the company known as Evolution Electronics and Power is a fairly standard-looking modern-day tower in appearance, not quite reaching the level of skyscraper.

The company owns a large factory nearby, used in production of its MACE units, and potentially other products, should it be desired.

The company also possesses a number of other factories around the city, used for production of weaponry and other military materiel.

Retail outlets for Evolution's products are scattered around the city.

Finders Keepers (Player: Reinholdt)

[Gray Zone]

Sitting right near the edge of the Red Zone, a new shop has opened up. It's a basic looking office, part of a larger building. Out front is a sign,


FINDERS KEEPERS*
We find missing people, kidnapees, deadtime victims and more.

*And no we don't actually keep them. It's just a name.

Inside, is a secretary typing away at a typewriter. She directs customers to wait until their turn, at which point she sends them back to meet the shop owner, one Heinrik Hurtz. He is most clearly not related to any superheroes whatsoever. This is a fact in and of itself, proven clearly by the fact that Heinrik wears glasses.

http://i455.photobucket.com/albums/qq276/Reinholdt9000/Gaia/HeinrikHurtz.png


Hastings and Sons Mortuary (player: Kid Kris, Grey Zone)
Near one of the older parts of the city sits a large and somewhat dour building of brick and mortar, built in the traditional sense, with a metal plaque by the door that reads (predictably enough):

Hastings and Sons
MORTUARY
For the preparation of the dearly departed.
And indeed, should one go in one should find all the trappings of a conventional mortuary, including several large visitation rooms, run by this guy:

http://public5.tektek.org/img/av/1008/d05/2213/715a669.png (http://tektek.org/avatar/38746382)
Though of course, usually without the zombie there.
In recent times however, the true business of the resident Mortician has branched into a more heretical bent, offering certain services to the living impaired (more commonly known as the foul Undead). These start at simple healings and flesh grafts (the flesh occasionally obtained 'legitimately', when a body comes in for cremation and the Mortician gives them an urn full of wood-ash, but usually corpses are obtained through donations from customers or good old fashioned grave-robbing). But services can also range into body part replacement and augmentation for the undead who wishes his creator had seen fight to give him a giant lobster claw or retractable venomous spines, or even full body/flesh reconstruction for the self-conscious lich (or lich in disguise, though making your new flesh look like someone else usually costs extra) or the zombie in his golden years. These customers usually come in through the back door, where there is a plaque listing the full list of services. Though of course some are brazen enough to come through the front door anyway.

((PM if you wish to interact with the Mortician, as Kid Kris may not always check the thread.))

MagMart (Player: Lord Magtok, Blue Zone)
An absurd mash-up of K-Mart, Wall-Mart, Target, and every other vile retail chain, MagMart is staffed by an unswervingly loyal Magbots, lobotomized talking cats that are too brain-dead to know any better, several voodoo spirits, and a pickle jar that everyone insists is a sentient being that only communes with those who truly believe in it.

Here you can find everything from curtains to carpets, macaroni to monkeys on motorcycles, groceries to zombies. The staff is always happy to help (or else), and if you aren't entirely satisfied with your shopping experience, you can pay a small fee to watch the MagMart employee of your choosing get fired out the MagMart complimentary employee morale cannon.

Magnificus Theater (Red Zone)
This large theater is an attempt to bring culture to the city of the Inside. Plays are regularly show here, and if desired other events can be held here.

The walls of the theater are colored with three shades of blue in a wave pattern. Inside the theater are a pair of grand staircases, with the railing colored gold, while the stone of the stairs is white. The stage itself is one of the largest in the Nexus, carefully designed for the greatest enjoyment.

Rules: Please, no violence. If you must have some violent action in a theater, pm me first.

NO Office (Player: Morty, Grey Zone)
The building that serves as NO's de facto embassy in Inside is now open for business. It's a large, newly constructed office building with a very no-nonsense look to it. Its purpose is to do business, not more and not less.

Once inside, the prospective licensed mercenaries will be confronted with a large hall lined with tables, behind which NPCs work at filing and cataloguing the people who arrive to receive their certificates. At least one actual NO member is also usually on a shift in the building.

Sable Spire (Blue Zone)
A great, black-colored tower now stands at the highest point of the Skyway. Appearing mostly similar to a modern-day skyscraper, albeit more futuristic, reinforced, and armored. Upon close examination, some parts of the tower appear to conceal compartments of some sort, likely something along the lines of concealed defensive turrets. the top portion of the tower is rather different in appearance.

It appears as a truly massive hatch, similar to what one might see over a missile silo under normal circumstances.

This hatch opens into the landing area of the aerial aircraft carrier Sanctuary, the main asset of the Altaran Irregulars. Said landing area is set to act as an elevator, capable of moving up to the top of the tower or moving back down to conceal whatever is landed (usually the aforementioned carrier) under the heavily armored hatch.

The Spire, constructed by Remnant in an alliance with the Altaran Irregulars, is now a major base for the the latter, who currently act alongside Remnant in protecting the city. Their troops largely use the same equipment as Remnant's, but use the old Imperial black-and-navy color scheme to distinguish themselves.

The The Temperance Teahouse (Grey Zone) Owned by Artemis

http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/1783/temperanceteahouse3xphde.png

http://www.valleyofisk.com/wp-content/uploads/wpsc/product_images/teahouse.jpg

In an old section of the city stands a wooden building of ancient construction. From inside comes the sound of good conversation and, occasionally, music being played. The scents of exotic teas, spices, and good foods drift out onto the street. along with the scents and sounds come an aura of peace and comfort. It's a nice place here, you could definitely stick around for a while, to escape the general madness of the city.

Two wings extend out from the main building. To the north (the right side as you face the tea house) is an extension of the main structure, still made of wood, the architecture is slightly different and more brightly colored, and also noticeably newer. The west side of the building is surrounded by a stone wall, enclosing a garden. The garden ends at a low stone building running the length of the west wall.

[Restaurant]Inside the restaurant is filled with tables and chairs, spread out across the dark hardwood floors. Thick wooden pillars support the second floor and the roof, their tops carved with geometric designs. At the north side of the restaurant is a long counter, surrounding an open kitchen. Steam and smoke drift up from the fires and the woks used for cooking. A shelf along the back wall is filled with dozens of tins, each containing a particular tea or herbal blend. Interspersed among them are tea kettles, each one used to brew a particular type of tea.

The center of the restaurant is open to the second floor. Stairs lead up to more seating on the second level, which looks down on the restaurant below over carved wooden balconies. The ceiling above the open space is painted with a mural of a golden dragon floating through the clouds and circling the sun.

Seats on the west side of the building go fast, as they offer the best view of the gardens. The south and east sides offer views of the bustling streets below. The north side of the second floor has no windows and sits above the kitchen, so it is often darker and smokier than the rest of the restaurant.

Menu[B]Drinks

Herbal Tea
Green Tea
Black Tea
White Tea
Yellow Tea
Red Tea
Blue Tea - Mentally stimulating.
Purple Tea - Very relaxing and slightly hallucinogenic.
Iced Tea - Served sweet or unsweet, with or without lemon.
Sake - Available chilled, heated, or at room temperature.
Lychee Wine - A rich sweet drink with a deep golden color. Pairs well with seafood. Served cold.

Food

Dim Sum
Sushi
Stir Fry - Served over rice or noodles
Noodles
Soup
Rice Cakes

Sweets

Ice Cream - Vanilla, Green Tea, Red Bean, and Mango flavored.
Dragon's Beard Candy - A spun sugar similar to cotton candy.
Moon Cake - A dense sweet cake around a salted egg yolk "moon".
Sun Cake - A crunchy pastry filled with a sugary cream.
Tempura Fried Bananas - Served over ice cream.

[North Wing]The north wing of the restaurant is of newer construction. It is more brightly painted and more heavily decorated than the main restaurant. Two doorways on each floor lead to a U shaped hallway that runs through the north wing. Sliding paper screens from the inner walls, so that they can be slid aside and make the spaces much larger. The lower floor holds private rooms that can be reserved for larger parties or special meetings. These rooms typically have a long low table surrounded by cushions. The second floor rooms have more flexible floor plans. Most have tables and chairs, often used to host card or board games. A few can be rented out for sleeping quarters, but patrons are reminded that the walls are, literally, paper thin. Disruptive behavior will have you evicted without a refund.

[Garden]The west wing of the tea house is a large garden surrounded by stone wall. A circular gate leads directly from the garden to the streets, as well as doors leading into the restaurant. The garden itself is carefully kept, trees and bushes trained and cut into pleasing shapes. Stone lanterns and statues decorate the garden. Two pools filled with koi fish sit diagonally from one another, connected together by a stream filled with river rocks. The sound of trickling water fills the garden. A winding path leads through the garden and over a low stone bridge. On the far side of the bridge, the path passes through another circular gate guarded by two stone dragons on plinths. the pair stare down at any visitors, questioning their intentions in passing through their gate.

Beyond the Dragon Gate the path becomes perfectly straight. On either side are large black stones surrounded by carefully raked white sand. The path passes under a red Torii gate before encountering the low stone building at the far side of the garden. The building runs the full length of the west wall and is open to the garden. Large prayer wheels line the opening and are turned by the breeze or visiting people. The walls within the building are heavily decorated and covered in hanging scrolls. At the center of the building is a shrine, covered in candles. Behind it is a mural depicting scenes of a warrior, a golden dragon, and the sun. Sitting on the shrine a wooden statue of a warrior, sitting in meditation, his sword set aside. The wood is lacquered and carefully inlaid with delicate patterns in gold. From the statue emanates a strong aura of peace, which spreads throughout the entire property.

NPCsHideki - A large man with a red face and a long nose, he is most often found in the kitchen, cooking up tasty things.
Hanako - An older woman, her black hair streaked with grey. She is Hideki's wife and most often found behind the counter serving tea.
Sakura - A lovely young woman and the daughter of Hideki and Hanako. She acts as a waitress and sometimes plays music.


OOC: Please Read. Important information.
The Teahouse and garden are protected by an aura of non-violence. Violent acts cannot be committed here. You cannot attack another patron or do anything that would cause them bodily harm. Anyone who attempts it will find it extremely hard to convince themselves to do it. If a particularly willful person overcomes this compulsion, something in the environment will intervene, as if by seemingly random chance, to protect their victim as if by divine intervention. Because that's exactly what it is.

Needle and Thread (Blue Zone, Player: Artemis97)
On one side of a wide cobblestoned street is a small shop. The sign hanging over the door depicts a simple spool of thread, pierced by a needle. No words were included, as a courtesy to those who could not read, nor were they needed. It was clear from the merchandise displayed in the two large windows on either side of the door that this was a clothing boutique. The right side displayed the latest in women's fashions, dresses and skirts in unique designs, all detailed by hand with beading and embroidery. The left window showed men's clothing, from a beautifully tailored three piece suit, cut from expensive fabrics, to the very best in adventuring style, rugged and sturdy, clearly built to last.

Inside, racks and manequins display more clothing, split down the middle between men's and women's fashions. The back wall held rolls of fabric, some plain, others with obviously magical properties. A large, three-sided mirror sits in the back corner, next to a small changing stall. On the other side is a small counter holding a cash register, behind that the door that led to a small workroom.

The Needle and Thread is a clothing shop specializing in custom tailoring and specialty designs. It is owned and operated by Lillith Rock, and the kindly fiendish woman can usually be found behind the counter, or working on orders in the back workroom.

Pontius' Custom Constructs (Player: Earl of Purple, Grey Zone)
The caravan of 6 wagons (I never said 3! Well, I did, but still.) arrives at a warehouse, previously for sale. The gnomes lead the golems and other constructs inside, and get to work. The warehouse has an open yard at the main entrance, and several golems, like crude figures of worked stone or wood, stand in the yard. A gnome wearing an apron over smart-yet-practical artesan's clothes and puts a sign up.


Pontius's Custom Constructs
Golems of Any Material* at Unbelievably Low Prices!!!**
You Won't Find a Golem, Gargoyle, Guardian or Homonculus Cheaper!!***
Come Now and Buy 1 Get 1 Full Price!!!****



*Flesh has an additional charge. **Define 'low'. ***Except at our competitors. ****Terms and conditions apply.

Sanctuary Fortress of Zoemaytare (Player: Rebonack, Blue Zone)

Like so many other prominent buildings in Town, or not so prominent buildings for that matter, this place seemed to pop up out of nowhere over night.

Buildings are like mushrooms in Town. Probably spread via spores, too.

Regardless, here it is. A rather sizable campus marble hewn from the mountains some distance away. Carved and hauled here near the edge of the slums where they were no doubt assembled. Though... no one can quite place a finger on when this happened.

Though the buildings aren't of only cold hard stone, no. There are timbers as well. Not what one might expect, however. They seem almost organic. As though they had grown into place rather than being hewn.

Oddness aside, the temple is arranged in a rather interesting fashion. Several concentric wall and courtyards ending in a central temple.

The outer wall is lower than the rest, each tier of the temple built onto higher ground like a wedding cake. Each wall is topped with a roof supported on the inside by pillars, creating a sheltered walkway. The exact use of these porches depends on the section of the temple one happens to be in.

Anyone is allowed entry through the first wall and into the first court, the Court of Meeting. Beyond the second wall only worshipers of Zoemaytare are allowed admittance to the second court, the Court of the Blessed. Beyond the third wall only the priests are allowed, where they carry out holy rituals within the temple itself.

The Court of Meeting is dedicated to service of those the worshipers of Zoemaytare dwell among. Food is prepared for the hungry here and given out without expectation of recompense. Those without a place to lay their head are allowed to sleep within the porch. The grounds beyond the porch are devoted to a wondrous garden boasting vibrancy and spectacular color. This are is always comfortably warm and brimming with life. Wounds heal faster as the body is refreshed. Undead creatures will find that remaining here is decidedly uncomfortable.

The sky above the temple seems to be perpetually clear, filled with pleasant sunlight in the day and cloaked with gossamer stars at night. Benches are set up here and there, under trees with hanging branches and above fragrant shrubbery. A lively stream flows endlessly in a circuit about the Court, spilling into several larger pools and meandering up a small outcrop of stone before cascading back down the other side.

This section of the temple is tended by members of the faith. Not priests, though devote. They can be found tending the garden and serving warm food. When in service to the temple these devotees wear a white linen ephod bearing the symbol of a willow tree, ornately rendered in blue thread. They'll be more than happen to answer any questions. Priests tend to have stricter ceremonial garb, including a blue tunic and white robe in addition to the ephod.

Welcome, traveler. May you be more blessed when you leave than when you came.

New information that isn't readily noticeable at first glance at the temple will be added here.

The temple grounds are protected by a dampening field that blocks unauthorized teleporation and dimensional shifting. The place is something of a fortress after all. Being able to pop in and out at will would defeat the purpose.

Zoemaytare isn't a god of (fill in the black) but rather the patron and protector of her people. As such, her domain, if she even has one, is over all that her people do. The people in question are collectively known as the Zoeos, and this particular temple is their first major venture into Town. At present their stated goal is to set up trade relations and aid the city. This is ministered through the temple on account of the Zoeos government being a theocracy.

It just so happens that there's a dungeon under the temple, though the entrance to it is well hidden.

NPCs thus far:

Potentate of the temple: the head priest and administrator. He has yet to be seen 'on screen' though he has been referred to.

Regent Zachius: And elderly human with a coppery complexion and deep-set wrinkles, the sort of face one expects of a person who has spent a great deal of time in the sun smiling. He's a kind old fellow who is in charge of the Court of Meeting.

Regent Stephen: A younger human who smells rather distinctly of wolf. He's in charge of the dungeons of the temple and seems to be a rather caring and compassionate fellow. It's his job to bring the cases of prisoners before the Potentate.

Regent Thadeus: One of the priests who aids in minor upkeep in the temple proper. He usually isn't seen outside the temple and since his position doesn't put him in much contact with the common folk he tends to be somewhat aloof and judgmental. Also happens to be an elf. Those snooty elves!

Bognus Thundershield: a lay dwarf that operates the temple's teleporter, primarily from Trog's. Though people can be 'ported in from elsewhere as well. While it isn't commonly known, this device can send people over rather long distances, though it's somewhat inaccurate when doing so. Bognus is a bit gruff, though generally good natured. He speaks with a thick Scottish Dwarven accent.

The Swordfish (Player: Ghar, Grey Zone)
A new shop has opened up in Market Street. The building is a simple affair. A brick building with a massive chimney that constantly billows smoke. On the inside a massive forge dominates the far wall from the entrance. All manner of smithing equipment is carefully placed around the large room that dominates most of the building. Lining the two side walls are many tools for his craft, while lining the far wall are the products of that craft.

Swords, swords of all shapes and sizes. Some brutally efficient, simple weapons and others pieces of art that are no less functional. Each and every sword is obviously the work of a master.

And the master is always present. A great robot moves around the room, always working and experimenting with its remarkable talent. The machine is a hulking, bronze coloured humanoid. The robot has a number of slides and doors, implying there's more to it than is immediately apparent. Finally, at its head is a glass dome, filled with water. Dominating the container is a great carp, as big as a man. It gazes at it's work with eyes that know little more than hate. Hate and its new inspiration.

Word travels quickly of this bizarre master swordsmith. Though it is quite fearsome, the quality of its blades are unmatched.

St. Guinevere's Sanatorium for Lunatics and Object Seekers (Player: Anyone, Gray Zone)
This insane asylum exists for people questing after Objects from the Holders Mythos. Anyone can run an Object quest, but please look at the community agreed guidelines first (http://tinyurl.com/5w42x5c) as it helps keep things consistent.

If you want to use the Sanatorium for other uses, feel free, but expect it to be a house of unspeakable horrors. :smalltongue:

The Sitar's Strings
"By humans, for humans". This restaurant employees only humans and only serves human customers. It is a meeting place for the human supremacist movement. IC Owned by Brian Starling and managed by Jan Lamar. Non-humans with good disguises can get in without being challenged.

Players: (HT as owner/manager, C'nor as waitress Maeve, Mindfreak as entertainer Treb)

The Temple of Dalachrech (Player: Earl of Purple, Grey Zone)
The first room entered is a foyer. On the walls are red drapes with silver, two-tailed scorpions embroidered on to them, and next to the door is an ornate font. The granite font stands about waist height, and is a plinth with a bowl of unholy water. Winding around the font are carved centipedes. A door away from this chamber leads to the main prayer hall. This room also has drapes with the two-tailed scorpion device on the walls, and a red velvet carpet flanked by wooden pews leads to an altar at the far end. The altar is covered with red velvet, with a gold statue and red candles placed upon it. The statue depicts a demon with a centipede's body, a scorpion's tail with spinnerets next to the sting, a stag beetle's head and the claws of a praying mantis.

This is a hidden location in the Grey Zone. Please PM Earl of Purple if you wish to interract there. The Temple is now open to the public.

Trollfinger, Ironpick & Greencheek, Mining & Engineering (Player: Morty, Blue Zone)
A run-down building near Trog's Tavern was bought by three goblin enterpreneurs with a large crew and now houses their mining and engineering company. Everyone who needs something dug, built, repaired or blown up is welcome.

Warwick Works (player: happyturtle, Grey Zone)
In the industrial area, a building is rented and has a new sign put out front.


W
Warwick Works

The building itself consists of a small office area in front and warehouses in back. There is no indication of what sort of business this is, but a certain cyborg with a satellite might recognize the logo and name.

Witch Which's Wish Shop (Grey, Player: Haruki-kun)

Welcome. If you have stepped into this store, it is because you have a wish.

The store is big, ancient and beautiful. It has a large garden with colorful flowers, a pond with fish and running water, and chirping birds. This is the outside of the store. The inside, however, is, to put it simply, gloomy. There’s burning candles and incense everywhere. From the hall where you enter you are led off into a side room with a low table and cushions around it. A tall, masked and unnamed stranger brings tea and snacks to the guests. The Witch sits opposite and rarely ever moves.

RULES (OOC):
This is a Wish shop. Your character will only enter this shop if he has a wish. Whether the wish is granted or not is a different issue.
Witch Which is in charge of the shop and will grant wishes to everyone who asks, regardless of intent or alignment, as long as the appropriate price is paid. Under certain conditions:

Condition one: Witch Which will not haggle. She couldn’t lower a price or overcharge even if she wanted to. A balance must be kept in order for the wish to be granted.

Condition two: When a Wish directly affects another player’s character in a way that would be considered godmodding, the other player must agree first.

Condition three: The Witch may not reject any wish unless the price is too high to be paid. Wishes to take a life or to destroy the world, for example, carry a price higher than anyone can pay. ANYONE.

Condition Four: The Witch will never engage in battle. Be glad. The Witch is the very definition of True Neutral.

Condition Five: The store is not hard to access; in fact, there’s a big sign outside and everything. However, the store’s grounds exist in a special separate dimension, protecting it from anything that could destroy it, up to and including plot.

Condition Six: Haruki-kun reserves the right to alter the conditions if he feels they’re causing problems such as godmodding or similar issues.

(Haruki-Kun wishes for a PM to be sent to him upon someone entering the shop so he knows about it.)

Inside's Defenses, Remnant, and The Council


Defenses

As stated above, the city of Inside is defended by the Walls, Moat and DOOM-Shield, but it is also defended by a more "mundane" force field that can be called upon in times of need, as well as a number of more conventional defensive capabilities, nearly all of which are manned and controlled by Remnant(Controlled for the most part by Wolfbane). These include things from Emergency Bunkers, Relief Stations, Anti-Aircraft Cannon, and the like.

Remnant

As stated before, Remnant is Inside's police force, army, and main defensive body. It is made up of the remains of what was once the Acronymian Empire, and consists of hundreds of men, women, and machines, both soldier and civilian, sacrificing their daily lives and time to make sure the city of Inside is relatively safe for it's citizens. There are Remnant Outposts all throughout the city, with the main HQ in Blue Zone, and less Outposts in Red Zone. These can be reached fairly easily, and allow people to report crimes, turn in criminals, collect bounties, and even ask to be recruited. Remnant controls most of Inside's defenses, but also controls Rapid Response Units capable of stopping fires, providing emergency medical aide, and even disaster relief to clean up debris and fix buildings and roads damaged by the day to day events of Inside.

Squads of Remnants patrol the streets "every so often" and should anyone need one, can interact with them(Please PM Wolfbane upon doing so, however).

As a note, Low-Level Remnants can be Godmodded! They can be assumed to fight the fires that pop up, but can also be asked to provide basic information. This also means that they can be bribed for less well-known information such as someone's name and rank, or to look the other way for a small crime, such as theft. Anything more, please PM Wolfbane to let him know, in case there is something that needs clarified. The Remnants can be godmodded to be killed on occasion, but if it happens too fast, too often, Wolfbane may step in and RP it out. Once again, please PM Wolfbane if you plan on killing a Remnant NPC.

What is NOT Godmoddable:

-Getting Security Codes
-Accessing Secure Areas
-Killing off more than one or two NPCs at a time, or killing a Named Remnant NPC/PC
-Stealing Identities
-Destroying Remnant facilities

It is not impossible for these to happen, but with proper warning provided to Wolfbane, it can be RP'd out and attempted. However, it should be noted that only Low-Ranking Remnants can be Godmodded in this way.

Council

The Council (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=195380) is the "ruling" body of Inside. A small group of individuals reside on it, and decide Inside Policy. People can go here for diplomatic relations, trials, or other activities that may concern dealing with an actual government instead of a police force or army.

[Chaotic Bob]

[Lascastle Community Center]

Well that hallway seems pretty well locked down!

Hill's little idea has eradicated a fairly hefty portion of the rushing horde, leaving behind a massive amount of frigid fog!
Which might pose a problem, since it starts drifting further towards the group as more of it builds up...

The group is welcome to continue firing into the cloud, but they're going to run out of safe ground fairly quickly.
They're going to need another idea on that front pretty soon.


Meanwhile, at the other end, Sunder charges the glowing eyes with all of the grace and delicacy of a rampaging elephant.

Most of the way to her target, the eyes narrow slightly as if scowling and adjust up just a teensy bit...
And then four sets of jagged spikes rush in around her from the darkened walls, blending into the non-light far too easily.

Something was camped out on the ceiling above, unseen, and as the pegasus charged underneath, it snapped its rather lethal limbs closed in a very straightforward intent to impale her from multiple directions.


A low rumble from underneath the room the big-monster and cultist had been in, growing lesser. Something's moving away, below.

[Red Zone Street]

"Hmm. Quick response."
She glances up again and then back towards the building.
"Sorry to disappoint, but things will probably be okay from this point out. Companion should be finishing up inside any minute now."

Hmm, beaten to the punch perhaps?


Spooky descends on the house!
Which isn't blocked really, but it seems more and more like a bad idea, the closer the entity gets.
An awful idea. A terrible idea.

The sense of foreboding looms up towards their mind and coalesces into something more concrete, a distinct will and intent.

They'll get as close as the building's roof before this will collapses towards them, seeking to invade and subvert their mind. Not replace it, but alter it.
Adjust that loyalty, obedience, towards a new purpose. A more aggressive, irrational one.

This takes a few moments.


From Noelle's perspective, that vortex of taint seems to focus, falling into itself and redirecting towards a rather specific point...


[Red Zone Street]

The ghostly entity is quite resistant to the attempt at subverting it, but that doesn't mean it's unaffected. Oh, no, it's running back away quite quickly, as that thing attempts to dig at its compound mind. Fortunately whatever created it seems to have lent it some resistance to that, or that would have been rather nasty.

It retreats back to the fighter. It tells Noelle nothing, but she can tell that something is wrong.

Oh dear. Noelle takes a moment to look over the building, trying to figure out what to do.

"Okay. I shoot, maybe something terrible happens, never know with these things. Or I don't shoot, and maybe something terrible still happens." Deep breaths, Noelle. "I don't like these odds."

She hits a few buttons.

"So let's stack the deck. Major Noelle Xanatov to all available Altaran Irregular and Remnant assets, requesting infantry support at my location for investigation into a possible source of this-"

"Understood."

"What? You're a dipl-"

"Overruled, and we're going to have a talk about this excursion of yours."

"...Suspects in the basement, Emms."

If there is nothing to stop it, first a scan of the building occurs by some high-tech systems, which are often quite capable of mapping areas, indoors and otherwise. Then, if that works, someone is going to try to transport/teleport/etc directly into that basement, in a shimmering column of swirling green light.

That's probably not the best plan, but it's a plan.

If it's blocked, well, that won't work. But if it does, there will be one Altaran Irregular official with a disruptor pistol, reinforced uniform, and fancy hat present. What N'alae of all people is doing intervening, I don't know, and I certainly don't know what she'll see.

[Lascastle Community Center]

"Back, back, BACK!" Hill does not seem to have taken well to the freezing cold in there, moving back...and probably seeing that thing up there, given the night vision.

He will proceed to try and blast it off the ceiling with that big ol' shotgun.

The other two retreat more slowly, giving ground to the cloud and firing into the horde as they go.


Community Center

Lyrina hears the sound of moving away.
OH NO YOU DON'T!
She flies to the room and tries to smash a hole to fight whatever's down there with a large laser beam.


[Red Zone Street]

The scan may also reveal the nine-foot man from earlier attempting to get into the building. He's quite adept at picking locks and subverting computer systems, and is very, very good at remaining unseen, but he's still visible to scans.

Shadow narrows his eyes, and makes use of one of his abilities. He should be able to see and hear out of any shadows in the building, and thus get a clear picture of what's going on.


Caelynn grits her teeth and fights the mental intrusion.

((Need Rebonack to drop a line in the Community Center.))

[Red Zone Street and Home]

Street and Above

Thankfully for Caelynn, there was no mental intrusion against her!
Hooray!

Just against Spooky, Noelle's little friend.

The vast majority of said intrusion falls to the wayside as the ghostly individual retreats, but a small trail seems to follow along, similar to those many rivers moving unseen through the city.

The woman in the armor gives a faintly impatient sigh and leans back against the door.
"Look, I said if things actually needed additional intervention, there would be a bigger sign or phone-call, or something."

Inside

Just because Shadow can poke around in the shadows of the building, doesn't necessarily mean he should.
The upper floor and its rooms seem mundane enough. Some unused bedrooms, a kitchen, closets, the usual house build
However, the lower floor, the basement...poking his awareness into that non-light seems to draw attention fairly quickly.

Not the good sort of attention, as another entity's will immediately moves to meld with his own.
It's almost identical to Spooky's situation (Noelle would notice a similar movement of the taint maelstrom), as some terrible power immediately seeks to drive a blind aggressiveness into the fellow.


The house scans from the ship would equally recognize that the house is fairly normal, other than the hole smashed from roof to basement.
Basement is fairly broad, probably unfinished, also relatively mundane other than the giant shard of ice rammed into the middle of the floor.
Stairs at the far end, leading up to the kitchen, are the only other particularly interesting thing in the room.

There's nothing barring a little warp into the room, although as soon as the column of light appears, the life sign Noelle originally detected wavers out of sight/notice.

Depending on how fast N'alae's sight follows into the warp, she can probably see the armored figure by the iceblock as shadows scatter its form across the darkness.
After that point, the only plainly viewed objects in the basement are a small globe of white light bobbing by the ice block, and a very faint glow from a crystal in the ceiling. Everything else is shrouded in black.

[Arkhosia]

Somewhere, Inside

For whatever reason, a large green crystal is here.
No idea why.

[Rebonack]

[Lascastle Community Center]

The one major downside to springing ambushes on Sunder is that nagging sense of prescience that she happens to have. When someone gets warnings of danger a few moments in advance that tends to translate to a pretty hefty Dodge bonus to armor class.

Now, changing direction really quickly when one has all that angular momentum is really tough. But accelerating explosively? That she can handle pretty well. There comes a sound not too different from a thunderclap and suddenly the pegasus is outside arcing upward into the unnaturally dark sky like a missile, beating her wings and straining her magic to bleed off the excess momentum as quickly as she can.

The wall of the community center down below looks like someone just shot a tank-shell through it. There's a pretty decent chance that whatever else happened to be in her flight path did fair much better.

Meanwhile, back inside!

Siegfried swears under his breath as there comes a reverberating BOOM and a hole in the wall appears at the end of the hallway where previously there was none.

With the spook cloud drifting closer the Inquisitor once more begins a litany, this time focusing on the area around them. Golden lines of radiant power begin etching into the ground, blazing with holy light. While the ward won't keep a monster from skittering across it should act as a barrier to their lethal breath.

[Chaotic Bob]

[Small Solar Temple]

"So it would seem."
KR walks up to the altar, looking around the chapel. She takes a few moments to cast a minor divination to detect whether there have been any other visitors to the chapel within the past few months. It shouldn't give her any details beyond that, just being a simple detection spell.


[Small Solar Temple]

Mia looks less excited by KR's idea. Letting the one going in front with lesser combat experience. Well. if that's the case, she needs to send MDM in front. Making him human size so he doesn't need to crawl.

After they entered and MDM is not destroyed, Mia takes a look around.

"That's strange. It looks like this place is less abondoned then it looks from outside."

[Small Solar Temple]

There continues to be a rather depressing lack of anything awful happening at this point.
Or cheerful. Maybe cheerful is a better word than depressing.

The divination spell has a pretty quick result: Yes.


[Lascastle Community Center]

What did that wall every do to you, Sunder?
Punching through it doesn't seem to be much of a problem, but she doesn't really seem to catch much else in her charge.

A couple more things smash closed in her wake, though...

If Hill happens to look down the opposite hall, he will probably see a rather terrible thing on the ceiling.
Two others, as well, further down.

On a superficial level, it looks like a crab, stretched out and given an almost snake-like, two car length body. Hard angles, the multi-jointed limbs, a pair of eyes hanging down its front and pointed below...
At the moment, it has reset its limbs along the walls and is starting to slide closer to the main group.

Or was, until Hill shot at it.
A fractured sound of breaking ice and it falls from the ceiling, emitting a grating squeal, before it begins smashing against the walls of the hall and charging forward with a wild, noisy abandon.

Maybe it's good that the crawling mass from the other hall has more or less died down now, leaving behind a massive cloud of ward-repelled frosty death in their wake.
Still a couple skittering things back there...but they're hanging back now.


Then Lyrina decides to go charging off into the room, breaking a big ol' hole in the floor.

Almost immediately, what little light exists in the building vanishes like a candle in the wind (which will probably adversely affect Hill's nightvision, needs some light...), and even begins trying to devour the glow of Seigfried's wards. Not their magic, just their light.

Whatever was under the floor is quick, and seems to be already gone, only notable through the dull rumble it still seems to be emitting as it goes further still.

If Lyrina can still procure some form of light, vision, or other detection, she can note that there's a tunnel below the building.
It's full of roughly-carved ice, but it was constructed to be a portion of the city's vast sewer systems.

[Darkcomet]

[Red Zone Street]

Above, Noelle can do little but watch. For now.

Well, that and warn N'alae. "Whoever was in there just vanished, don't know where they went. Whatever's in there is trying to get at our ghosty friend, but he should be able to hold it off now."

N'alae does not reply at this point. She's busy, and rapidly piecing things together, at that. After all, she does have access to Hill's helmet feed, so she knows about the whole 'light' thing. And that's certainly light being snuffed out in here, and something Noelle spotted at that.

But, seeing as she has augmented vision, and has every reason to be a perceptive, quick-to-notice-things type, she does manage to spot that armored figure before it scatters.

She gives no indication of this, though. Instead, she comes to a different conclusion. If darkness enables this thing, and whoever's messing with it is hampering the light somehow (if the disappearance into the shadows is any indication, definitely someone who likes the dark), there's obviously only one option.

Let there be light.

"Major, divert all power from your gunship's laser cannon until it's nothing but an exceptionally blinding and precise light." N'alae, for her part, draws a disruptor, expecting retribution.

Noelle is doing precisely as ordered, moving into position and firing the gunship's laser cannon down at the crystal, thanks to that hole from the ceiling. No sunlight means they just have to use something else. In this case, a laser weapon dialed back until it's just a really fancy and powerful light, instead of a deadly anti-tank cannon.

[Lascastle Community Center]

Fortunately for the Irregulars, the blasters are semi-magitech and the bolts tend to put out some light, so there's something there, at least.

Hill uses those boosters to jump over the crab thing, firing off the shotgun in midair, down at it. The goons also turn their attention to it, backing away as much as they can without getting clouded and unloading on it with those blasters.

[Rebonack]

[Lascastle Road]

Well.

Since Sunder is clear of the building for the moment she pauses to take a look around. They've got a TON of people inside the community center and they were starting to trip over each other. And who knows who might still need help out here?

She'll keep an ear out for a summons by her friend.

Sunder casts her gaze about to see if she can't spot any more trouble going down.

And there's always trouble going down.

[Meanwhile!]

The Inquisitor decides to focus all of his effort on sheer, brilliant, aberration-burning holy light. This is no side effect of a spell. This is the real deal!

[Arkhosia]

Lascastle Sewers?

Lyrina flies after it, illuminating the passageway by summoning light.

[GrandDM]

[Red Zone Street and Home]

Street and Above

Thankfully for Caelynn, there was no mental intrusion against her!
Hooray!

Just against Spooky, Noelle's little friend.

The vast majority of said intrusion falls to the wayside as the ghostly individual retreats, but a small trail seems to follow along, similar to those many rivers moving unseen through the city.

The woman in the armor gives a faintly impatient sigh and leans back against the door.
"Look, I said if things actually needed additional intervention, there would be a bigger sign or phone-call, or something."

Inside

Just because Shadow can poke around in the shadows of the building, doesn't necessarily mean he should.
The upper floor and its rooms seem mundane enough. Some unused bedrooms, a kitchen, closets, the usual house build
However, the lower floor, the basement...poking his awareness into that non-light seems to draw attention fairly quickly.

Not the good sort of attention, as another entity's will immediately moves to meld with his own.
It's almost identical to Spooky's situation (Noelle would notice a similar movement of the taint maelstrom), as some terrible power immediately seeks to drive a blind aggressiveness into the fellow.


The house scans from the ship would equally recognize that the house is fairly normal, other than the hole smashed from roof to basement.
Basement is fairly broad, probably unfinished, also relatively mundane other than the giant shard of ice rammed into the middle of the floor.
Stairs at the far end, leading up to the kitchen, are the only other particularly interesting thing in the room.

There's nothing barring a little warp into the room, although as soon as the column of light appears, the life sign Noelle originally detected wavers out of sight/notice.

Depending on how fast N'alae's sight follows into the warp, she can probably see the armored figure by the iceblock as shadows scatter its form across the darkness.
After that point, the only plainly viewed objects in the basement are a small globe of white light bobbing by the ice block, and a very faint glow from a crystal in the ceiling. Everything else is shrouded in black.

"Oof... something in the basement. Trying to overpower me, make me aggressive. I'm pulling out, I don't know how much longer I can hold it off."

He shakes his head groggily.

"Now that is interesting. I've never been detected just through shadow-sight before. I wonder what it is... Nine, go take a look, would you? Can't be too careful."

Since you didn't mention any problems Nine's having in breaking into the building, I'm going to assume he succeeds and now heads carefully down to the basement. He's stealthy enough to be completely unnoticed by ordinary and even enhanced senses, as well as any mechanical or electronic sensors, but the supernatural senses the thing in the basement apparently has might well pick him up.

[ImpSyndrome]

[Gags and Giggles]

"Eleven o'clock will do just fine. Though, ah, perhaps I ought to buy something from you, at least to thank you for your interest," Stick says. While he already knows how to create veils, he'll look around for anything else that might prove useful to his magical studies.
"Well, I'm not gonna stop you," Uzume responds. "I mean, not like you have to, but, uh...if you insist, heh heh." There's no way to know if she has anything else that would appeal to Sticks. ((Feel free to make something up, if you like; I'm sure I can make it fit.)) Then again, her magic is of an unusual nature, so it might be interesting to learn how it works and how she uses it in her products.

((Yikes, I'm such a slacker. Sorry this is so late...))

[Zefir]

[Small Solar Temple]

While KR is using a spell, Mia is going around with MDM, checking the rooms(if there are any) for any sign of living, like the rest of a meal, a bed or anything else, even trash from a very new product might be fine.
Should the result be that she can't find anything, she will let MDM do a scan to find secret rooms.

[Arkhosia]

"Oof... something in the basement. Trying to overpower me, make me aggressive. I'm pulling out, I don't know how much longer I can hold it off."

He shakes his head groggily.

"Now that is interesting. I've never been detected just through shadow-sight before. I wonder what it is... Nine, go take a look, would you? Can't be too careful."

Since you didn't mention any problems Nine's having in breaking into the building, I'm going to assume he succeeds and now heads carefully down to the basement. He's stealthy enough to be completely unnoticed by ordinary and even enhanced senses, as well as any mechanical or electronic sensors, but the supernatural senses the thing in the basement apparently has might well pick him up.

Caelynn activates her gauntlets.
I'm going in.
She then enters the household.

[Shadowcaller]

[Aug Tower - Astrana and Valente]

"Boyfriend actually. I'm Valente. She's right, I'm just tagging along. I don't have any credentials anyway, so don't mind me." Valente says, sounding unconcerned. He's just here to check this place out with Astrana.


"It's nice to meet you, Astrana, Valente. If you don't mind me calling you so," Employment says cheerily. The black soldier will keep his hand out to shake, at least for this post, but it'll be withdrawn if she doesn't seem to understand the custom. Of course, it's possible her player merely missed that bit last time. "Now, Miss Astrana, we'd love to show you our facilities, but we must get more specific: what job are you interested in applying for?"

[Aug Tower - Astrana and Valente]

The player might have missed that, yes. Astrana will quickly shake the hand of the soldier. "I am a professional warlock, Been training since I was a child." The tiefling explains. "What I do is help people improve themselves by finding extra-planar entities and making pacts with them so I figured since you do the same but using different methods there might be some room for me." It was a wild shot but there was no shame in trying, the worst thing that could happen would be that you were denied.

[Chaotic Bob]

[Red Zone House]

Outside

"Oh no you aren't."
The moment Caelynn moves for the door, the armored woman steps slightly more in front of it, her radiant sword tilted up just slightly enough to be considered aggressive.

"This is a delicate situation. Until this house starts blowing up, I don't think you really have the authority to move on by."

Inside

There was nothing for Nine to pick, really. Probably could have hopped right into the broken window in the back.

Getting to the basement reveals a rather interesting scene.


As soon as the order leaves N'alae's mouth, the figure from before reforms only a short distance away.
This time, a burning ring of light flickers away behind their head, and a dripping halo of inky black spirals above. A man's voice comes from within still-slightly-insubstantial armor, and seems the type used to being the voice of authority.
"Repeal that order or everyone in this city will die."


[Lascastle]

Road

Oh Sunder, how right you are. There is always something going wrong!

At the moment, that particular something seems to be related to the fact that every sewer grate going down the road in a general thattaway direction seems to be spewing unholy frost clouds!
Most people seem to have decided that being on the street is a bad idea at the moment, but...that might not matter for too long.

Community Center

Oh boy.
Actual radiance.

Their one true enemy, and their one true fear.
Seigfried knows, he's paid this due before.

It has the simplest effect it could be expected to have: they are swiftly left alone. The remnant skittering creatures have decided to recoil away into the depths of their fog, and the crab-snakes further down the hall have retreated into side rooms.

All that remains is the one, seizing up under the light and becoming easy pickings for Hill and his subordinates. It's a large target that can't even seem to move right anymore.
They almost can't miss, and broad enough shots along its middle cease its protesting movements soon enough.

For the first time in a long several minutes, things seem become quiet.

Sewers

Darkness and cold.

Even summoning her own light, it's similar to sticking a flash-light under several blankets before attempting to use it.
The air itself seems to stifle the glow from getting much farther than a few feet ahead, just enough to keep her from ramming into a wall.

And the cold.
This is not a cold Lyrina should stay in.
The rumblings follow a straight enough path before her, and the farther along she goes, the more alive the cold feels.

Coating, seeping, clawing at her, trying to force its way into her flesh, her bones, and even her spirit.
It seeks to consume her, caring little for divinity or mortality.


[Small Solar Temple]

It's not much of an extra room, but poking around one of the corners does reveal an off-to-the-side dressing room of some sort.

A simple bar hangs off the wall, with a very worn looking white robe hanging off of it.
There's a small counter below it, with an empty bowl, but little else.

[The Bushranger]

[Below the TV Tower]


"Don't worry, I won't~" Hikari grins and winks.

~Fast Forward~

Gently pushing another door open, the magical girls step into a large area, several floors high. It's clearly intended to be a factory area, and many of the large machines are still left mothballed here. "Wow, this place is really big..."

Suddenly, a double-headed spear slams into one of the contraptions near Hikari as she jumps back. Whipping her gaze upward, she sees a heavily armored skeletal warrior, glowing with an eerie green light. It extends its hand, and the spear wrenches itself free and flies back to its hand.

"Well, good news is, we found the witch. Bad news is, we found the witch."

"Funny how it works that way, isn't it?" Mikani observes, pulling out her wand once more and settling into a battle stance. "I think this one we should probably blast into a bazillion tiny pieces," the Magical Girl declares, grinning. "On three?"

[ImpSyndrome]

[WAREHOUSE A303]

There are many storage spaces scattered across Inside, but this one is strangely empty. Of course, it wasn't like that an hour or two ago, but that was before Sanji Genkiro arrived and seized the place, ejecting the previous contents with great haste. The occupants might have protested, had he not threatened to burn them alive if they didn't allow him to borrow it for the sake of saving his world. Now, the pyro-happy yokai stands alone outside a massive, vacant warehouse, tapping his foot impatiently and waiting for the one person who has claimed to be capable of bringing him home...

[Baeleck]

[Warehouse A303]

And here is the woman in question. Niara Tarmikos can be seen approaching the storehouse at a leisurely pace, her coat pulled tight around her person, collar raised to cover her neck. Her hair is pinned carefully in place, effectively masking the fact that she spent last night sleeping against a countertop in Trog's.

Her drone is hovering by her side, keeping exact pace. Their slow approach should give the device ample time to survey the situation, hopefully garnering basic information about Sanji and, most importantly, whether there is some variety of trap awaiting Niara, unprovoked as it would be. Can't be to careful in her line of work.

Assuming everything is fine and dandy, Niara gives a polite nod as she steps up to the yokai, though no hand is offered to be shaken at this juncture. 'Sanji Genkiro, I assume?' Her tone is perfectly professional; her expression neutral.

[ImpSyndrome]

[Warehouse A303]

And here is the woman in question. Niara Tarmikos can be seen approaching the storehouse at a leisurely pace, her coat pulled tight around her person, collar raised to cover her neck. Her hair is pinned carefully in place, effectively masking the fact that she spent last night sleeping against a countertop in Trog's.

Her drone is hovering by her side, keeping exact pace. Their slow approach should give the device ample time to survey the situation, hopefully garnering basic information about Sanji and, most importantly, whether there is some variety of trap awaiting Niara, unprovoked as it would be. Can't be to careful in her line of work.

Assuming everything is fine and dandy, Niara gives a polite nod as she steps up to the yokai, though no hand is offered to be shaken at this juncture. 'Sanji Genkiro, I assume?' Her tone is perfectly professional; her expression neutral.
Sanji notes the approach of a woman in concealing clothing, accompanied by a strange object floating near her. At first, he mistakes it for a shikigami and its owner for an onmyouji, but as they draw closer, it seems to resemble some other odd metal artifacts he's seen around the city, so he only watches it with a cautionary eye for the moment. Its observations will show that there aren't any traps set by the yokai, although its analysis of himself will show that he's plenty dangerous even without them.

"You assume right," Sanji says shortly, obviously agitated. "Let's hurry it up; this crisis has a very short fuse. In here." With that, he lifts up the shutter leading into the warehouse and directs Niara inside; as rough as he may seem, he at least has some manners. Once she enters, he'll step in himself and let the thin metal barrier slide back into its closed position. Unless she has anything to say immediately, his first question will be, "So, how exactly is this going to work? Any potential complications I should be aware of?"

[Baeleck]

[Warehouse A303]

Niara doesn't hesitate to follow Sanji's lead, stepping briskly inside and taking a quick look around the place. Big, bare, empty. Assumedly a convenient empty lot, she supposes, not suspecting the forced ejection of whoever was utilizing it earlier.

'I can see you're in a hurry, so I won't go into deep detail,' Niara says, as she withdraws a small device from her right-hand pocket. 'I'll be commandeering a short-range portal that I know to already exist in this city. It's a simple procedure, especially given the pandimensional nature of the Nexus. You might know this already, but this world has the curious property of drawing all variety of different races to it, from a similarly diverse variety of worlds. Travelling the opposite direction is no less difficult, so long as you have the tools.' Which, one can assume, she does.

'As for complications, pandimensional travel can always be a risky business, though I aim to make all travel as safe as possible.' She gives a reassuring smile, though Sanji might be able to tell it's the same expression she gives whenever she speaks about the safety of her methods. 'The main issue you should be concerned with is where we arrive on your world. If there is no specific dimensional portal I can gain access to, then we will arrive at the point on your world that has the most link to this world. If there's some sort of crisis happening there, then there's a chance you may arrive in "enemy territory", so to speak.' She pauses, as she inputs something onto the device in her hand. 'With me so far?'

----------

[Hodgepodge Street, Grey Zone]

It's a busy day on Hodgepodge Street. Seems like most everyone is out and about, doing a spot of shopping or sightseeing - you know, general getting-in-the-way activities.

A bobbing head of white hair can be seen maneuvering through the crowded thoroughfare. The owner of said hair must be a good foot or so shorter than the majority of the citizens, and seems to be being jostled against his will in random directions.

The boy manages to find a vantage point, in the form of a metal statue of a faceless, top-hatted individual. He hops up onto the ledge around it, heaving a bulging duffel bag up after himself. The half-drow has greyish skin and a pair of sharply pointed ears, which twitch as he strains to drown out the chatter of the crowd. Looping one arm around the inside of the bronze figure's leg and leaning out over the crowd, his vivid blue eyes scanning his surroundings.

I have... no idea where I'm supposed to be going, he concludes.

[GrandDM]

[Red Zone House]

Outside

"Oh no you aren't."
The moment Caelynn moves for the door, the armored woman steps slightly more in front of it, her radiant sword tilted up just slightly enough to be considered aggressive.

"This is a delicate situation. Until this house starts blowing up, I don't think you really have the authority to move on by."

Inside

There was nothing for Nine to pick, really. Probably could have hopped right into the broken window in the back.

Getting to the basement reveals a rather interesting scene.


As soon as the order leaves N'alae's mouth, the figure from before reforms only a short distance away.
This time, a burning ring of light flickers away behind their head, and a dripping halo of inky black spirals above. A man's voice comes from within still-slightly-insubstantial armor, and seems the type used to being the voice of authority.
"Repeal that order or everyone in this city will die."


"Damn! Caelynn, try not to throw up. It tends to be rough the first time."

He grabs her, and suddenly implodes. She should be dragged with him. If all goes to plan, she'll suddenly be in a twisting, infinite realm of shadows, then back in the real world, falling out of a shadow into the basement of the building.

Of course, it's entirely possible that the creature blocks this attempt at shadow-travel.

[ImpSyndrome]

[Warehouse A303]

Niara doesn't hesitate to follow Sanji's lead, stepping briskly inside and taking a quick look around the place. Big, bare, empty. Assumedly a convenient empty lot, she supposes, not suspecting the forced ejection of whoever was utilizing it earlier.

'I can see you're in a hurry, so I won't go into deep detail,' Niara says, as she withdraws a small device from her right-hand pocket. 'I'll be commandeering a short-range portal that I know to already exist in this city. It's a simple procedure, especially given the pandimensional nature of the Nexus. You might know this already, but this world has the curious property of drawing all variety of different races to it, from a similarly diverse variety of worlds. Travelling the opposite direction is no less difficult, so long as you have the tools.' Which, one can assume, she does.

'As for complications, pandimensional travel can always be a risky business, though I aim to make all travel as safe as possible.' She gives a reassuring smile, though Sanji might be able to tell it's the same expression she gives whenever she speaks about the safety of her methods. 'The main issue you should be concerned with is where we arrive on your world. If there is no specific dimensional portal I can gain access to, then we will arrive at the point on your world that has the most link to this world. If there's some sort of crisis happening there, then there's a chance you may arrive in "enemy territory", so to speak.' She pauses, as she inputs something onto the device in her hand. 'With me so far?'
All the technical-speak nearly renders Sanji cross-eyed; once she finishes her monologue, he brings his hands up in a 'please stop' gesture and pleads, "OK OK, I get it: lots of science-y hoo-hah, whatever. Ugh, sorry I asked..." After taking a moment to absorb all of that information, he says, "OK, I know for a fact that there aren't any portals in my world, so it'll have to be that other thing you said...a place of connection or what-have-you. That'd probably be the World-Heart...Excellent, that's exactly where I'm needed. I'm just hoping it's not 'enemy territory' already, or I'll have so much more to worry about than sticking the landing..." He crouches down for a moment, a bit tired of standing by now, and asks, "So...do I need to do anything to speed things along?"

[Baeleck]

[Warehouse A303]

There's the hint of a small smirk at Sanji's overwhelmed reaction, but she makes note not to get too technical again. 'Well, what I propose is we start heading over to this portal now, and we can continue our discussion on the move. Seeing as time is of the essence.' It seems a logical course of action, Niara thinks. 'While we walk, you can help me locate your world.'

With this, the device in her hand light up, projecting an intricate array of bright points around the two of them, small threads of light weaving between them. It's... a little mesmerising.

'Tell me a bit about your home,' she says, 'It will help me locate it on my handy map here.'

[ImpSyndrome]

[OUTSIDE WAREHOUSE A303]

There's the hint of a small smirk at Sanji's overwhelmed reaction, but she makes note not to get too technical again. 'Well, what I propose is we start heading over to this portal now, and we can continue our discussion on the move. Seeing as time is of the essence.' It seems a logical course of action, Niara thinks. 'While we walk, you can help me locate your world.'

With this, the device in her hand light up, projecting an intricate array of bright points around the two of them, small threads of light weaving between them. It's... a little mesmerising.

'Tell me a bit about your home,' she says, 'It will help me locate it on my handy map here.'
"Yeah...Yeah, good thinking," answers Sanji favorably. "I don't know much about the world above ground, but I could tell you a hundred stories about the Underground and the World-Heart..." He lifts open the shutter to the warehouse but nearly drops it in surprise when he finds himself face-to-face with a teenage-looking girl in shabby clothes. She seems to have been eavesdropping on their conversation, and by the look on Sanji's face, it's not the first time they've met. There's an intense pause before the girl backs up against the wall of the warehouse corridor, sputtering fast and incomprehensible apologies and pleas for mercy. Once he and Niara have stepped outside and closed the door behind them, though, he'll step forward and simply utter, "You're that ash yokai, aren't you...? What are you doing here?"

The thought that Sanji recognizes her sobers the terror-stricken girl somewhat, and she stammers, "You...Y-you remember me...?" After regaining some measure of composure, she manages to reply, "I...I just sort of...wound up here at random...I didn't think about it too much at first, but then I couldn't find anyone, and then-"

"Alright, relax," assures the elder yokai. "I'm kind of in the same boat right now...Actually, now that I think about it...you might be able to help us. Do you know much about the surface world of Other-Gensokyo?" When the girl nods assent, he continues, "Good, you've got the job. This woman is Niara, and she may be our ticket home. Tell her everything you can remember about our world: geography, locations, anything worth talking about." She obediently approaches, though she cuts Sanji a wide berth, and introduces herself, "I'm Sasha...Sasha Graymolt. Me and Sanji are from the same place...er, world...What do you want to hear about first?"

[Darkcomet]

[Red Zone Street]

"Belay that, but remain ready to proceed. If I die, do it." N'alae says, before deactivating the comm and raising the disruptor at the returned company.

"Why, tell me, should I believe you? You're in a basement clearly set up to keep that ice block exposed to light, I happen to know the minions of the entity responsible for this are no friend to such light, it is no large leap of logic to apply this to the entity itself, and something here is not only radiating some kind of corrupt metaphysical aura, but attacking the minds of others that approach, according to the intelligence I have received.

And here you are, someone clearly attuned to shadows and darkness, attempting to prevent me from dealing with the light problem." She lays it all out for that guy to try to counter, sounding ever-increasingly skeptical.

"Tell me, exactly, why I shouldn't believe you are the one allowing it to affect the world again."

Outside, Noelle belays, but remains in position to proceed.

[Lascastle Community Center]

"...I'm gonna go somewhere tropical after this, ugh. Where'd those other two get off to?" Hill glances about, probably a little annoyed that some of their support has decided to ditch them.

"Hey, we're not dead."

"Shhh, you'll bring them back."

Meanwhile the troopers talk to each other quietly.

[Baeleck]

[Outside Warehouse A303]

Niara watches the scene between the two unfold, making particular note of words that would be specific to their world - World-Heart, yokai, Other-Gensokyo. All the while, her little drone buzzes away, seemingly synthesizing this information.

'Ah, Sasha... nice to meet you, I suppose.' Niara gives a curt nod. 'Names of things are the most important - continents, geographical features, governments, historical events. Anything that would be recorded frequently in writing.'

She ushers the group to keep following as she heads away from the warehouse. 'Sanji, could we also discuss a price for my services?' Her tone is somewhat tentative. 'I'm not some sort of dimension-hopping samaritan, after all. Woman needs to make a living.'

----------

[Hodgepodge Street, Grey Zone]

There was nothing for it. Gritting his teeth, the boy makes sure his duffel bag is firmly closed, before leaping back down into the crowds.

This time, instead of being taken by the flow of bodies, people seem to pass around him, apparently against their will. There are various shouts of indignation as the little boy with the bag pushes people ever which way. Nobody so much as stumbles, however, the crowd merely rippling slightly in the wake of the half-drow.

Now out of the main crowds, he stands at the side of the road, breathing heavily, a look of worry spread upon his face. No, he wasn't lost, just a tad off-track. It had been a long while since he was last at the temple, but he was good with route-finding.

Inside had expanded since he was last here though. Significantly.

He's certainly not going to ask for directions. That would involve talking to random strangers.

[ImpSyndrome]

[Outside Warehouse A303]

Niara watches the scene between the two unfold, making particular note of words that would be specific to their world - World-Heart, yokai, Other-Gensokyo. All the while, her little drone buzzes away, seemingly synthesizing this information.

'Ah, Sasha... nice to meet you, I suppose.' Niara gives a curt nod. 'Names of things are the most important - continents, geographical features, governments, historical events. Anything that would be recorded frequently in writing.'

She ushers the group to keep following as she heads away from the warehouse. 'Sanji, could we also discuss a price for my services?' Her tone is somewhat tentative. 'I'm not some sort of dimension-hopping samaritan, after all. Woman needs to make a living.'
"I appreciate that," Sanji fibs, "but it's hardly my greatest concern right now. There's a major difference between 'making a living' and 'living, full-stop', and unless I get home and secure the World-Heart pronto, the people of Other-Gensokyo may not be doing much of either for much longer. What say we wait until after we save the world to discuss payment? Or is the knowledge that you've rescued an entire plane of existence from the brink of obliteration not enough for you?"

"Sanji, that's being too harsh," Sasha tells him. "She's offering us a favor - a very important helping hand - without having any stake in our world. The least we can do is guarantee her some kind of compensation."

"Oh yeah? How about this: she helps us save our world, and I guarantee that I won't just tell her to kiss my otherworldly buttocks when all's said and done. I honestly don't understand how the people of this Nexus can be so blind beyond personal gain that they can ignore the potential doom of an entire universe just because it lies beyond their corporeal vision. If it's that important to you, why don't you come up with some kind of reward? In the meantime, I'll focus on what matters: namely, safeguarding the homefront."

Sanji grits his sharpened teeth as he stomps forward, refusing to address Niara on the subject again if she tries to bring it up. Sasha lets out a sigh and tells her, "I'm sorry about Sanji. He really just has a one-track mind...Even without the fate of the world on his shoulders, he's just not a people-person; he was even more violent the first time I met him...Anyway, we don't have anything of much value here, but if you do choose to help us, I promise to make it up to you somehow." Should Niara agree to the tenuous arrangement, Sasha will start to fill in some details about her world, including some notable locations like the Shrouded Ocean, the Lotus Nurseries, and the Ashen Grove where she lives.

((I know Sanji's a hypocrite and a pain to deal with, but I promise that there's a good reason I want to hold off on deciding this so soon. If it's not asking too much, do you think we could figure it out later in the scene?))

[Baeleck]

((Of course, not a problem. I was half expecting this sort of reaction from Sanji, from the impression I had of his character so far.))

[Leaving Warehouse A303]

'If there's a world at stake, then forget everything I just said, for now,' Niara responds, upping her pace to a swift jog. 'I can't claim to be a wholly altruistic type, but I'm not going to just stand by in the knowledge that some sort of cataclysm is about to happen. Especially when I can help do something about preventing it. You'll have to excuse me for not knowing how urgent things were, but I... well, I did not know, explicitly.' She doesn't sound indignant about it at all, more disappointed that Sanji got snappy. She values level-headedness in professional dealings like this.

'It's fine Sasha. I've had ruder clients before,' she says, quiet enough so that Sanji hopefully doesn't hear.

As the ash yokai reels off more information, the projected map begins to shrink in on itself, many points of light flickering out simultaneously as the number of potential matches is narrowed down. The orrery works a bit like a search engine, one would guess - using a variety of filters on the details it has compiled on each plane.

[Zefir]

[Small Solar Temple]

It's not much of an extra room, but poking around one of the corners does reveal an off-to-the-side dressing room of some sort.

A simple bar hangs off the wall, with a very worn looking white robe hanging off of it.
There's a small counter below it, with an empty bowl, but little else.

[Small Solar Temple]

((I post, because I think it may be better for KR, since my post will include something for him/her to react))
Mia will take a look in the room to notice the worn out clothes and the counter. She won't head inside even if things seem calm. A cold shiver runs down her back as she imagine that the person shutting off the sun is there anywhere. She takes a deep breath befor going a few steps back. She waves at KR.

"I think I found something."

While she is calling for KR, MDM is guaring the door.

[Rebonack]

[Lascastle Road]

Horrible freezing doom fog everywhere.

This is one of those instances where Sunder is glad that she isn't ground-bound, otherwise she would be walking through that stuff. And that would be terrible.

Though...

The clouds don't seem to be the sort of thing she could do much about. Sure she could bust the clouds one at a time, but given that they would just keep seeping out of the sewers? She would manage to exhaust herself and not much else.

Hmmm...

Phone call time!

Meanwhile, inside the community center!

Siegfried's phone rings!

He puts away one of his pistols and pulls out the device, keeping his hand raised to ward off the darkness. "Yeah? Alright, I'll keep that in mind."

*beep!*

"We should finish sweeping the center and move on. If Llymic isn't here then we're wasting our time."

Search away!

[Deathkeeper]

[Temple of Cosiellio]

Arty arrives at the temple at a brisk trot, a somewhat nervous expression on his face. He'd waited a few days after he'd met Cos Bella's father before visiting, as he didn't want to jump to a temple's charity when he wasn't as destitute as some people likely were. But after thinking about it, he'd rather take the old rent payments and put them in the god's donation box if it's all the same. Even if he's not a very suave colt, he's still a member of a herd-minded species and gets uncomfortable when he's stuck living alone. The ease in meeting strangers was pretty much the only reason he hasn't tried to find some place outside the city to settle.
Anyway, he'll enter the place if there's an appropriately sized (and open) entrance, but won't go too far in until he finds someone. Don't want to wander anywhere he's not welcome in.

[Halae]

[Temple of Cosiellio]

The front door to the temple is wide open, allowing for anybody that seeks refuge to find it here, a pair of wings imposed over a kite shield as a symbol above the doorway, the wings bringing to mind a heart with how they sit. The inside is a largely open affair, with skylights shining down from above onto the white Marble. It's not a huge room, but it's large enough that it wouldn't feel cramped even for several people of Arty's size to be in.

At the end of the room is a statue of a robed young man above an altar, his hair hanging loosely around his head in a pattern Arty should find familiar, though not exactly like what he remembers, carved out of the same white marble as the rest of the temple. some incense lends a nice atmosphere to the place, and a woman in a sweater and jeans can be seen praying in front of the altar.

[Deathkeeper]

[Temple of Cosiellio]

For reference (since I'm not sure if I ever described him that well physically) Arty is lean but muscular, basically light riding horse size for his lower self and about as thin as someone can get while still having well-defined muscles for the upper.
Arty will walk a decent way into the temple and will wait for the woman to finish. Interrupting prayers is very rude, you know. Of course, Arty's still not entirely aware that he has a magic effect constantly on which muffles his hoofbeats, which means he might be waiting a while if she doesn't have any enhanced senses to hear his approach.
Yes, this causes a lot of problems with NPCs.

[Halae]

[Temple of Cosiellio]

It'll be a while before the brunette woman finishes with her prayers, about fifteen minutes, but when she does, she turns to Arty with a look of calm on her face, not at all surprised by his presence, "Hello! Are you here for a service, or did you have something more specific in mind?"

[Arkhosia]

Sewers

Lyrina follows the icy trail, shivering and creating heat around her by making bright light.

[Deathkeeper]

[Temple of Cosiellio]

Once she turns around Arty will go over so he's within a more usual speaking distance.
"Yes, erm. My name's Artorias. The Man in White said he'd give my name in case I ever stopped by. I've had a little bit of trouble finding jobs with enough pay for a place large enough for me, and he said I might be able to get some space for a while. I can do anything you'd need of me." he says, eager to mention that he won't be leeching off their hospitality. He's quite aware of how much more food he takes compared to usual people.

[Halae]

[Temple of Cosiellio]

"Arty, right? Yes, he said you'd be stopping by. We'll get you situated for a day or two first - we can get some sort of earning out of you a few days after you've settled in," she looks towards his hooves, "And not shod, either. We'll have to fix that. Come on, I'll show you where you'll be staying," She starts moving towards the back, waving for Arty to follow.

[Deathkeeper]

[Temple of Cosiellio]

"Oh, that sounds fine. I know it's less impressive when gods can provide healing, but I do have medical training. And a little bit of magic, but poor Chadwick doesn't provide much. Once I get the resources I really should look up any lore about fixing a gods' sick mind.
Arty gulps at the comment at his hooves, looking at them for a moment before following.
"Yeah, we had this stuff back home that worked pretty well keeping your hooves in shape but I'm afraid I didn't have a stock of the stuff since I wasn't carrying any when I got to the Nexus. If at all possible I'd prefer to ah, avoid nails."
Arty is fully aware that there's no harm in them, he just finds the idea of sticking holes in his feet off-putting.

[Halae]

[Temple of Cosiellio]

"We can stop by the shop in Mallside that has a few special things for individuals with non-plantigrade feet. The proprietor will likely have a solution for you that doesn't involve nails," she says. The woman, who Arty might be suspecting to be a priestess, will lead him to a hall lined with rooms in the back, "This is housing for the needy. The doors are a bit small for someone of your stature, but the rooms themselves should be adequate and well lit."

[Baeleck]

[Hodgepodge Street, Grey Zone]

The half-drow boy is getting ever more disorientated as he wanders the streets. Each turn leads him to yet another unfamiliar area. Where were all the vaguely medieval-looking buildings he remembered? Or, for that matter, all the talking green wolves and friendly unicorns?

He takes this moment to take a quick peek inside his duffel bag. The derpy little face of a plush unicorn peers back at him, head squished between all his other belongings. It calmed him a little. That was good.

He keeps wandering. He'd find the place by himself - of course he would. It's too late to give up now. But if only there were someone to help him out? Some nice, helpful passer by? Or maybe a not so nice, not so helpful passer by...

[Deathkeeper]

Temple of Cosiellio

Well, Arty sure hope's she's a priestess, else there's no one of rank at all around. He assumed she's at least an initiate, since he doesn't expect someone not affiliated with the temple's clergy to be in charge of seeing visitors.
"That sounds fine. I'm sure I've got enough for that if I don't need to pay rent for a bit. The door's not a problem, really. My head can duck and my rump's not that wide." he says, looking at the rooms and than back to the woman (out of curiosity, how old does she look by the way?).

[Halae]

[Temple of Cosiellio]

The woman appears to be in her late twenties or early thirties.

The rooms are all mostly the same - the same white marble as the rest of the temple, well illuminated by a large window, and rather bare at the moment, with only a bed, a fireplace, and a dresser being in each one. A few of the rooms have people in them, doing various things, and they're all clearly marked as occupied, but most of the rooms here are empty.

[Deathkeeper]

[Temple of Cosiellio]

Arty looks at the rooms and smiles. They're not huge, but it's really just a bedroom, so it's really a non-issue. It's not any worse than where he's been, and he's not stuck by his lonesome in a corner room.
"They look nice. Probably need to move the bed out, just stick a blanket or some such to sit on instead. Should I just pick one?"
The door thing might get a bit annoying, but these are the sacrifices one makes when you're over seven feet tall.

[Chaotic Bob]

"Damn! Caelynn, try not to throw up. It tends to be rough the first time."

He grabs her, and suddenly implodes. She should be dragged with him. If all goes to plan, she'll suddenly be in a twisting, infinite realm of shadows, then back in the real world, falling out of a shadow into the basement of the building.

Of course, it's entirely possible that the creature blocks this attempt at shadow-travel.


[Red Zone Street]

"Belay that, but remain ready to proceed. If I die, do it." N'alae says, before deactivating the comm and raising the disruptor at the returned company.

"Why, tell me, should I believe you? You're in a basement clearly set up to keep that ice block exposed to light, I happen to know the minions of the entity responsible for this are no friend to such light, it is no large leap of logic to apply this to the entity itself, and something here is not only radiating some kind of corrupt metaphysical aura, but attacking the minds of others that approach, according to the intelligence I have received.

And here you are, someone clearly attuned to shadows and darkness, attempting to prevent me from dealing with the light problem." She lays it all out for that guy to try to counter, sounding ever-increasingly skeptical.

"Tell me, exactly, why I shouldn't believe you are the one allowing it to affect the world again."

Outside, Noelle belays, but remains in position to proceed.

[Lascastle Community Center]

"...I'm gonna go somewhere tropical after this, ugh. Where'd those other two get off to?" Hill glances about, probably a little annoyed that some of their support has decided to ditch them.

"Hey, we're not dead."

"Shhh, you'll bring them back."

Meanwhile the troopers talk to each other quietly.


[Small Solar Temple]

((I post, because I think it may be better for KR, since my post will include something for him/her to react))
Mia will take a look in the room to notice the worn out clothes and the counter. She won't head inside even if things seem calm. A cold shiver runs down her back as she imagine that the person shutting off the sun is there anywhere. She takes a deep breath befor going a few steps back. She waves at KR.

"I think I found something."

While she is calling for KR, MDM is guaring the door.


[Lascastle Road]

Horrible freezing doom fog everywhere.

This is one of those instances where Sunder is glad that she isn't ground-bound, otherwise she would be walking through that stuff. And that would be terrible.

Though...

The clouds don't seem to be the sort of thing she could do much about. Sure she could bust the clouds one at a time, but given that they would just keep seeping out of the sewers? She would manage to exhaust herself and not much else.

Hmmm...

Phone call time!

Meanwhile, inside the community center!

Siegfried's phone rings!

He puts away one of his pistols and pulls out the device, keeping his hand raised to ward off the darkness. "Yeah? Alright, I'll keep that in mind."

*beep!*

"We should finish sweeping the center and move on. If Llymic isn't here then we're wasting our time."

Search away!


Sewers

Lyrina follows the icy trail, shivering and creating heat around her by making bright light.

[Red Zone]

"Oh crap."
The woman turns on a dime, rather brusquely moving through the door back inside.

For better or worse, Shadow was not blocked.

The Basement

The rather heavily halo'd man is at the very least doing a decent job of not appearing too aggressive.
No weapons are being displayed in response to N'alae's.

One hand is slowly pointed up towards the ceiling, where a crystal blocks a hole.
"It is not the idea I block, but the method. Magical or luminous disruptions have to be applied very carefully down here. Your entrance was already pushing it, no need to give the prisoner further cause to-"

Around now Caelynn and Shadow should be tumbling into the basement, fresh from their extradimensional jaunt.

The man's gaze snaps over to them immediately, along with a very quietly muttered vulgarity.
Somewhere up above, the front entrance slams open.

crack

A hair-width fracture now stretches across the basement floor where there wasn't one before. It stretches out from where the giant ice shard is embedded into the ground, which also seems ever slightly taller than before.

"Get out! All of you out, immediately!"


[Lascastle]

Road

Still frosty.
Although the frost all seems to hesitate oh so briefly, at a point.
Pausing its spread for just a moment before carrying on.

Community Center

Search and destroy would probably be a pretty good option right about now.

If Seigfried keeps his ward up, the group can probably mosey their way through the fog to clean out the smaller little creatures.
Or they can go the other way, try to catch up to the other two crab-snakes before the lightshock fades from them.

Really, they'd giant pushovers, hardly able to move right.
For a rather limited time.

Or they can try to go after Lyrina.

[Sewers]

Warmth can only assist her for so long.
This cold seems worse than just a temperature problem.

It's rather beyond natural, but perhaps the peace of mind can help Lyrina make it further.
Which is good, because her target is slowing down! Its movements have become more smooth, almost soundless, as it slows.

From a vague sense of the presence it radiates, even in the darkness, it would also appear to be very large. Easily filling the tunnel off before her.

Beyond that, it's rather difficult to tell what it is, or what it's preparing to do next.

[Small Solar Temple]

Does that sun statue seem more...pale?
Probably just a trick of the twilight.

[Devixer]

NO Escort

Mr. Metal catches the shotgun, fumbles with it and is punched in the gut. He falls on his back, not having expected such a hard hit. He immediately rolls over and goes about getting up.

One of the thugs gets a big slash across his chest, and staggers backwards. The other two move forward, one with an axe, one with a shortsword, and try to slash Krayger.

The driver moves toward the front-right tire, the one that is busted, but yelps when a bullet whizzes past and hits the van. He immediately drops the tire and jack and scrambles for cover. The shooter is not visible from where Cassidy and Krayger are.


NO Escort

Krayger swears. He adopts a stance to make best use of his height and the length of his weapon, making powerful sweeps with the axe in the hopes of taking the pair out before they can get close, or at least keeping them at a distance.
"Heads up, sniper!"

Cassidy tries to stomp on the back of Mr. Metal's head before he can try to get up. She hears Krayger making note of the sniper, but she's not in a position to look for the shooter right now, besides a few wild glances.

[Darkcomet]

[Red Zone Street]

Down in the basement, N'alae stops pointing the disruptor at that guy... "Given the tangible effect just now, I'm inclined to believe you."

And starts pointing it at the new arrivals.

"By order of the Altaran Irregulars, you two are leaving, and if you don't like it, my colleague outside has a gunship. Our presence is only going to release that thing. So I repeat, out. Through the door, no teleporting."

If they actually cooperate then she'll be following them out of the basement. If not she'll have to help force them out.

Caelynn's met her, oddly enough.

[Lascastle Community Center]

"Agreed. We got a comm from Major Xanatov in the middle of that. I didn't hear her quite enough through all the shooting, but it sounded like she'd found something, so let's clear the place and get to whatever she dug up."

Hill and the two Irregulars will go shoot up those big old things, letting Siegfried get the tiny things.

[GrandDM]

[Red Zone Street]

Shadow snorts derisively at the gunship threat, but complies. Nine appears out of the shadows, following him out.

[ImpSyndrome]

((Of course, not a problem. I was half expecting this sort of reaction from Sanji, from the impression I had of his character so far.))

[Leaving Warehouse A303]

'If there's a world at stake, then forget everything I just said, for now,' Niara responds, upping her pace to a swift jog. 'I can't claim to be a wholly altruistic type, but I'm not going to just stand by in the knowledge that some sort of cataclysm is about to happen. Especially when I can help do something about preventing it. You'll have to excuse me for not knowing how urgent things were, but I... well, I did not know, explicitly.' She doesn't sound indignant about it at all, more disappointed that Sanji got snappy. She values level-headedness in professional dealings like this.

'It's fine Sasha. I've had ruder clients before,' she says, quiet enough so that Sanji hopefully doesn't hear.

As the ash yokai reels off more information, the projected map begins to shrink in on itself, many points of light flickering out simultaneously as the number of potential matches is narrowed down. The orrery works a bit like a search engine, one would guess - using a variety of filters on the details it has compiled on each plane.
"I guess that's just what happens when you live underground all your life," Sasha suggests meekly. As for Sanji, he's still trudging along, but his ire lifts slightly as Niara admits the importance of his task. The yokai explain more about their universe as they walk, the elder providing information about the mechanics of magic while the younger describes its corporeal attributes. At some point, Sanji asks, "Where exactly is this portal you plan to commandeer? Are we getting close?"

[Baeleck]

[Grey Zone Streets]

'Is subterranean living common on your world, then?' Niara queries.

Finally enough information is garnered about the yokai's world, and the swirling mesmer of projections collapses inwards to a single point. 'Ah excellent. We have our destination,' she says cheerily, tapping away at the buttons on the device in her hand. She should be able to collect information about the nature of the place, and hopefully flag up any abnormalities, if any exist. Anything that might hinder their passage there from the Nexus.

Assuming all is well, Niara puts the device back in her pocket, then looks to Sanji. 'You were quite right about the lack of portals; I can't trace any.' She pauses. 'How did you both end up on this world? Ah, If you don't mind my asking...'

In response to Sanji's question, she smiles, and points at the street corner they are approaching. 'It's just around the corner. Literally.' Because Trog's is super-convenient like that.

[ImpSyndrome]

[Grey Zone Streets]

'Is subterranean living common on your world, then?' Niara queries.

Finally enough information is garnered about the yokai's world, and the swirling mesmer of projections collapses inwards to a single point. 'Ah excellent. We have our destination,' she says cheerily, tapping away at the buttons on the device in her hand. She should be able to collect information about the nature of the place, and hopefully flag up any abnormalities, if any exist. Anything that might hinder their passage there from the Nexus.

Assuming all is well, Niara puts the device back in her pocket, then looks to Sanji. 'You were quite right about the lack of portals; I can't trace any.' She pauses. 'How did you both end up on this world? Ah, If you don't mind my asking...'

In response to Sanji's question, she smiles, and points at the street corner they are approaching. 'It's just around the corner. Literally.' Because Trog's is super-convenient like that.
"No, there are only a few yokai who can withstand the heat," Sasha informs Niara. "Some animals dig tunnels to condition the caverns to make them habitable for themselves, but Sanji's the only one who can live in the core...He's kind of like a caretaker for the place." As for how they arrived, she adds, "I don't really know...I just woke up in a burned-out tree trunk in the Hunting Grounds a couple weeks ago. (Now that I think about it, I should go back there; that trunk was kind of cozy...)"

"I don't have all of the details myself," Sanji admits, "but I'm hoping that I'll get some answers once we return. Of course, the stability of the World-Heart and the Reactor come first, but I do have questions that need answering...We also need to make sure that none of our yokai get trapped in this world before we leave it behind; there's no telling how many more of us wound up sent here besides us two."

The elder yokai breathes a sigh of relief as they arrive at Trog's, their intended destination. "Good, now we can really get this show on the road. Ladies first." He holds the door open and allows Niara and Sasha to enter before following after them. As the door swings shut behind him, a woman in a green coat watches from across the street and whispers, "(I tried to warn you, Sanji...I hope Sasha-chan will be ready for what that girl will have to show the two of you.)"

((Am I correct in assuming that we're taking this to Trog's now?))

[Lost_Deep]

Cassidy tries to stomp on the back of Mr. Metal's head before he can try to get up. She hears Krayger making note of the sniper, but she's not in a position to look for the shooter right now, besides a few wild glances.


NO Escort

Krayger swears. He adopts a stance to make best use of his height and the length of his weapon, making powerful sweeps with the axe in the hopes of taking the pair out before they can get close, or at least keeping them at a distance.
"Heads up, sniper!"

Mr. Metal is stomped, but does not go unconscious. He instead struggles to get up despite being stomped. At the same time, Krayger's axe is enough to dissuade the pair from doing anything stupid. For the moment.

The driver, taking cover behind the van, gets a good look at whatever may be in front of the van. "Two guys coming!" he says, "And they have the cyberarms!"

[Murkus]

[Aug Tower - Astrana and Valente]

The player might have missed that, yes and will quickly shake the hand of the soldier. "I am a professional warlock, Been training since I was a child." The tiefling explains. "What I do is help people improve themselves by finding extra-planar entities and making pacts with them so I figured since you do the same but using different methods there might be some room for me." It was a wild shot but there was no shame in trying, the worst thing that could happen would be that you were denied.

Hands shake! The soldier's is rough and, along the palm, cold from its flexible armored plating. "While Elexxion will consider the hiring of any magical person for the purposes of experimentation, I'm not sure the consortium would wish to be associated with extraplanar entities. It sounds like you've got some people skills. Do you have references? Satisfied pact-makers?"


"Well, I'm not gonna stop you," Uzume responds. "I mean, not like you have to, but, uh...if you insist, heh heh." There's no way to know if she has anything else that would appeal to Sticks. ((Feel free to make something up, if you like; I'm sure I can make it fit.)) Then again, her magic is of an unusual nature, so it might be interesting to learn how it works and how she uses it in her products.

((Yikes, I'm such a slacker. Sorry this is so late...))

"Well, I often have trouble making something completely disappear..." Sticks looks around a little, trying not to seem quite so awkward. "Do you have any, er, larger veils?"


Yes please.
Fenris replies in awe, looking at the pictures. What weaponry is this? :smalltongue:

Sorry, I forget I have it on most of the time.
Dracona replies, taking it off.
She's an average-looking woman with very pale grey skin (appears she's often armored), short maroon hair, a long draconic tail, and black wings, the latter of which are hidden in flaps of her armor to be protected.

A holographic set of squares is called up before Fenris, listing various augmentations. Mostly lethal, some not. "While Elexxion Industries is a manufacturer of weaponry, our Clinic specializes solely in weaponry that interfaces directly with the human body. Our selection is vast. Observational processes indicates you are inclined to CQC. May I suggest a bladed weapon attached directly to your arm?"

--------

"Oooh, I love her hair," says the female aide, dressed in a roman-style toga. The tall bronze-skinned man pinches his handsomely stubbled chin between his thumb and forefinger. "Beautiful wings. Blood like yours would buy a lot more than one free augmentation, if you'd be willing to part with some."

The ambiguous one - a pale pink person with big, beautiful dark eyes and a slender body, leans forward. "We could do so much with your face, dear. Make you a goddess."





Nova flashes a grin all her own. [B]"Well it's like old Carl Neighgan used to say. 'The Cosmos is all that is or was or will be.' That seems pretty inclusive, y'know?"

It's got to be some kind of cosmic joke, making pony-puns of everything.

"Well... let's see. I kinda curious how you're doin' all this cool solid light stuff. I mean, I know how I do it," Nova's horn lights up with a thrumming, polychromatic aura, causing several geometric planes of shifting color to begin springing into being around her. They then begin to pulse and vibrate, filling the air with a soothing, otherworldly melody. "But I don't think you guys are doing the same thing."

Carl Neighgan. Gods help him, he musn't laugh. Maxwell turns away to hide his awfully amused grin. "I... am not the man to ask about the processes involved. I'm a geneticist by trade. We reverse-engineered the technology from an alien civilization that had been dead... at least three millenia by the time we arrived. Their machines create a field of energy particles that, when light is filtered through them, saturate the light and cause it to change form. It may not even be light any longer, as we understand it, but it certainly retains light's beauty."

While Max speaks, a floating, flickering orb appears in the gloom, brightly lit all on its own. It's a planet, the dead one he talks about in all likelihood.

[Arkhosia]

Hands shake! The soldier's is rough and, along the palm, cold from its flexible armored plating. "While Elexxion will consider the hiring of any magical person for the purposes of experimentation, I'm not sure the consortium would wish to be associated with extraplanar entities. It sounds like you've got some people skills. Do you have references? Satisfied pact-makers?"



"Well, I often have trouble making something completely disappear..." Sticks looks around a little, trying not to seem quite so awkward. "Do you have any, er, larger veils?"



A holographic set of squares is called up before Fenris, listing various augmentations. Mostly lethal, some not. "While Elexxion Industries is a manufacturer of weaponry, our Clinic specializes solely in weaponry that interfaces directly with the human body. Our selection is vast. Observational processes indicates you are inclined to CQC. May I suggest a bladed weapon attached directly to your arm?"

--------

"Oooh, I love her hair," says the female aide, dressed in a roman-style toga. The tall bronze-skinned man pinches his handsomely stubbled chin between his thumb and forefinger. "Beautiful wings. Blood like yours would buy a lot more than one free augmentation, if you'd be willing to part with some."

The ambiguous one - a pale pink person with big, beautiful dark eyes and a slender body, leans forward. "We could do so much with your face, dear. Make you a goddess."



Carl Neighgan. Gods help him, he musn't laugh. Maxwell turns away to hide his awfully amused grin. "I... am not the man to ask about the processes involved. I'm a geneticist by trade. We reverse-engineered the technology from an alien civilization that had been dead... at least three millenia by the time we arrived. Their machines create a field of energy particles that, when light is filtered through them, saturate the light and cause it to change form. It may not even be light any longer, as we understand it, but it certainly retains light's beauty."

While Max speaks, a floating, flickering orb appears in the gloom, brightly lit all on its own. It's a planet, the dead one he talks about in all likelihood.

How would it work, exactly?
Fenris asks.
----
I'll consider it, sir. And why not?
Dracona replies.

[ImpSyndrome]

"Well, I often have trouble making something completely disappear..." Sticks looks around a little, trying not to seem quite so awkward. "Do you have any, er, larger veils?"
"Not at the moment," the shapeshifter responds, "but I could always make one. How big exactly are we talking: the size of this little roadside stand, the size of a house, or what?" Once that question's answered, her next will probably be, "If you don't mind my asking, how're you going to end up using it?"

[Shadowcaller]

Hands shake! The soldier's is rough and, along the palm, cold from its flexible armored plating. "While Elexxion will consider the hiring of any magical person for the purposes of experimentation, I'm not sure the consortium would wish to be associated with extraplanar entities. It sounds like you've got some people skills. Do you have references? Satisfied pact-makers?"

[Aug Tower]

Astrana doesn't mind the roughness at all, her own grip is fairly firm. "I've prepared a little list if you're interested. But the summary is that I've worked for the fourth tower, where I was trained, and with Tenebras whom I worked for several years. Think I've done an admirable job so far." Not that she actually had to do any real work for Tenebras besides collecting Rot the vampire. "I have basic combat skills as well if that counts for anything. Dealt with a few dangerous critters in my life. It's all on the list." She collects it and hands it over to the soldier. It will mention a few more general things as well. People skills, limited fire control, heat resistance, intelligent, ambitious, outgoing, reflexive, prehensile tail, good at managing things in stressed situations, open-minded etc. It's a pretty long list she got there.

[TechnoScrabble]

City Entrance

A historically inaccurate spartan walks into the city with a historically inaccurate swordswoman!

"Gravity is odd. It'll take some time to get used to this."

[Arkhosia]

City Entrance

A historically inaccurate spartan walks into the city with a historically inaccurate swordswoman!

"Gravity is odd. It'll take some time to get used to this."

Ahh, it's nice to be on actual ground again! Well, technically I'm not, but...
Brooke comments

[TechnoScrabble]

Ahh, it's nice to be on actual ground again! Well, technically I'm not, but...
Brooke comments

"Whatever do you mean?"

[Murkus]

[Aug Tower - Astrana and Valente]

The employer-voice makes the soldier take Astrana's resume, scanning it in the briefest of instants. It's passed back to her much too quickly to have been read by any normal person.

"You seem highly qualified for a position in Humanoid Relations, Miss Tyamera! Now, on a slightly personal note, I must ask: does your... unique heritage grant any of the abilities listed here?"

[Gags and Giggles]

"Well, if I'm ever in danger, to do something I'm rather good at: hide," Sticks says, smiling slightly in that sad, self-depreciative sort of way. "One about my size, mayhap?"

[Aug Tower - Power and Beauty]

"Why, in any number of ways! A showman's sword, a machete, a dagger, a spear or miniature lance, all potentially powered by electricity, heated for cleaner cuts, or perhaps made unbreakable via hardlight technology!" The little orb explains, pulling up that section of the catalog in a flicker of light. "What weapons are you trained with, my good man?"

---------

"Well, what we could do for free is add to your face. Make it more... draconic, add a sharp sort of beauty," The woman says, holding up a mirror that seems to reflect that exact result. Dracona's face stands out a bit more in that expression, angled and literally pointy in some spots with miniature maroon dragon scales. "Unless it wasn't the face you had in mind..."

[Shadowcaller]

[Aug Tower - Astrana and Valente]

Astrana's heart makes a leap but yet she just keep that confident smile on her face. "The tail obviously." She moves it around for empathize before it settles behind Valente's back, attempting to grab his tail as if they were grabbing each others hands. She felt rather thrilled right now, though she might have to ask a bit more questions first. "But the parts about fire and heat as well." Grotesque rumors claimed they made fireproof gloves out of tiefling skin back in Elshar, and that wasn't even the worst ones. "I don't mind the questions, it's commonly asked within the fourth tower as well." There are the horns too, but I'm not sure how much of an benefit they are.

[Rebonack]

When one deals with Equestrians one must be ready to endure the horse-puns. The worst part is that they probably aren't aware that the puns in question are even puns.

Again, it all seems to be some kind of drunken cosmic joke.

[B]"Huh," is about all Nova has to say regarding the explanation. Sounds like they might have found a way to make photons interact with the Higgs field, maybe? That would certainly get the job done.

"So what were those other people like?" Nova asks, pointing at the illusion of a dead planet. "I mean, obviously you guys never met them or anything. But you must have learned something about who they were."

[Deathkeeper]

Mr. Metal is stomped, but does not go unconscious. He instead struggles to get up despite being stomped. At the same time, Krayger's axe is enough to dissuade the pair from doing anything stupid. For the moment.

The driver, taking cover behind the van, gets a good look at whatever may be in front of the van. "Two guys coming!" he says, "And they have the cyberarms!"

NO Escort

"Did you seriously not bring any sort of gun? How far?" he groans to the driver. Civilian status should not mean helpless when killing someone is that easy with a gun. I mean, it requires lucky aim and it wouldn't have worked well on these guys, but still.
"Cassidy! Finish that pisser off and support!" he roars. I mean geez, he just took on four people while she arm-wrestled one.
Krayger rushes forward to bury his axe in one of the thugs' head, trying to take them out ASAP. he's prepared to use his off-hand gauntlet to wrench their weapons away if they try to block.

[Arkhosia]

"Whatever do you mean?"
Two years ago, the virtual reality MMORPG Sword Art Online came out. I was one of the many who bought it on release date. Upon playing, it was discovered the log out button was missing. And then we learned the truth about the game: it was a game of death. Dying in the game is death in real life, and removing the NerveGear from outside forces cause the same result.

[Aug Tower - Astrana and Valente]

The employer-voice makes the soldier take Astrana's resume, scanning it in the briefest of instants. It's passed back to her much too quickly to have been read by any normal person.

"You seem highly qualified for a position in Humanoid Relations, Miss Tyamera! Now, on a slightly personal note, I must ask: does your... unique heritage grant any of the abilities listed here?"

[Gags and Giggles]

"Well, if I'm ever in danger, to do something I'm rather good at: hide," Sticks says, smiling slightly in that sad, self-depreciative sort of way. "One about my size, mayhap?"

[Aug Tower - Power and Beauty]

"Why, in any number of ways! A showman's sword, a machete, a dagger, a spear or miniature lance, all potentially powered by electricity, heated for cleaner cuts, or perhaps made unbreakable via hardlight technology!" The little orb explains, pulling up that section of the catalog in a flicker of light. "What weapons are you trained with, my good man?"

---------

"Well, what we could do for free is add to your face. Make it more... draconic, add a sharp sort of beauty," The woman says, holding up a mirror that seems to reflect that exact result. Dracona's face stands out a bit more in that expression, angled and literally pointy in some spots with miniature maroon dragon scales. "Unless it wasn't the face you had in mind..."

I'm the weaponmaster of House Eyrecrad. Name a mêlée weapon, and I've trained in it's use.

Hmm... a little of a draconic appearance would be great, but i'd prefer to not have scales.
Dracona replies.

[Gullara]

[Aug Tower - Astrana and Valente]

Astrana's heart makes a leap but yet she just keep that confident smile on her face. "The tail obviously." She moves it around for empathize before it settles behind Valente's back, attempting to grab his tail as if they were grabbing each others hands. She felt rather thrilled right now, though she might have to ask a bit more questions first. "But the parts about fire and heat as well." Grotesque rumors claimed they made fireproof gloves out of tiefling skin back in Elshar, and that wasn't even the worst one. "I don't mind the questions, it's commonly asked within the fourth tower as well."

[Aug Tower - Astrana and Valente]

Valente smiles at his girlfriend, glad to see her so enthused about this. His tail entwines with hers, but he keeps quiet still. He doesn't want to interrupt.

(Just tossing a quick reply out. Carry on without me otherwise.))

[TechnoScrabble]

Two years ago, the virtual reality MMORPG Sword Art Online came out. I was one of the many who bought it on release date. Upon playing, it was discovered the log out button was missing. And then we learned the truth about the game: it was a game of death. Dying in the game is death in real life, and removing the NerveGear from outside forces cause the same result.


I'm the weaponmaster of House Eyrecrad. Name a mêlée weapon, and I've trained in it's use.

Hmm... a little of a draconic appearance would be great, but i'd prefer to not have scales.
Dracona replies.

Blue stares at Brooke for a long moment.

"Why would anyone buy that?"

[Arkhosia]

Blue stares at Brooke for a long moment.

"Why would anyone buy that?"

It was the most anticipated game of the year.
And those "features" weren't revealed until after people logged in, and they couldn't leave to warn others.

[TechnoScrabble]

It was the most anticipated game of the year.
And those "features" weren't revealed until after people logged in, and they couldn't leave to warn others.

"Then how did I pick you up?"

[Arkhosia]

"Then how did I pick you up?"

No ****ing clue. Maybe there was an error in transferring data?
Brooke replies, surveying the city as they walk.

[TechnoScrabble]

"However it happened, I'm glad it did. You saved me from an eternity as that psycho's slave," Blue sighs.

[Arkhosia]

"However it happened, I'm glad it did. You saved me from an eternity as that psycho's slave," Blue sighs.

Always happy to help!
So, do you know if there's anywhere I could stay at for the night? An inn or hotel or something?
Brooke inquires, glancing up at the darkening sky.

[TechnoScrabble]

"I'm not sure...Oregon restricted me from accessing any Nexus information to prevent me escaping effectively," Blue looks around for shelter.

[Lady Serpentine]

[Grey Zone - Scythe's House]

Scythe gives her an odd look. "I suspect that it'll work better with you in the body, as the magic will work on you as well."

"Although, what exactly do you mean that you can be outside your body?" He gives her an extremely interested look.

"Aww. Even though I'm not technological? That's an interesting side-effect." She winks at him, grinning just before her body goes stiff, and a cloud of steam jets out from its mouth, flowing around him and reforming into a humanoid figure, looking much like her body does.

"As for what I mean, I'm whatcha might call a ghost in the machine! Resurrection spell went wrong and bound my soul to a steam cloud, and I used my first body to build another, which I used to build this one, so I can change bodies like clothes."

[ImpSyndrome]

[Gags and Giggles]

"Well, if I'm ever in danger, to do something I'm rather good at: hide," Sticks says, smiling slightly in that sad, self-depreciative sort of way. "One about my size, mayhap?"
"Yeah, that shouldn't be a problem," Uzume tells him. She grabs a tape measurer from her supplies and asks Sticks to hold still for a bit; as long as he complies, she'll start measuring his physical dimensions, starting with height and moving on to width and girth at various points, like shoulders and waist. "Once I've got all the necessary measurements," she explains while she takes notes, "it'll take some time to construct the deployable field and imbue it with the proper magic...a day at most. I could contact you when it's ready, or I could bring it to your place when I visit on Friday, if you don't mind waiting."

((If you have no objections, shall we assume that the day in question is a Wednesday?))

[Earl of Purple]

[The Augmentation Tower]

The Brilliance is in fact the Elexxion Industries ship hovering silently over the Red Zone, occasionally drifting so as not to block sun for very long. Below is a tower consisting entirely of hardened light, arranged like myriad tremendous clockwork cogs stacked atop one another. Around it, on what was once an empty lot, a garden of neon and chrome has sprung up, where the newly augmented are taking joy in that which was so long lost to them. Most are old folks, now made beautiful, or the sickly, now made well. It's a sight like no other, as they happily rejoin their families or just simply relish in the ability to walk, hold, throw and run.

Of course, someone has to make sure the rabble of the Red Zone don't come and ruin what Elexxion's trying to build. Guards in thick, sleek black armor wait along the perimeter, possessed of no visible weapons but seeming rather dangerous, nonetheless.

As the three ponies approach, they'll be cut off by what appears to be a cloud of tiny grey sand particles. It spins before them, chiming in a hundred thousand miniature voices, "Oooh, my, priority cases! Can we help you?"

"Yes, you can. I'd like a new leg. This one's got woodworm. And me crew heard you can fix them right up too, maybe." The unicorn speaks first, tapping her existing wooden prosthetic as she talks, to demonstrate the woodworm.

The pegasus looks most hopeful; he loves flying, although he can't fly with only one and a half wings.

[Devixer]

NO Escort

Cassidy grimaces at Mr. Metal not giving up. She was trying to get this done with as few casualties as possible, so this gang didn't come after them later on. But since they were bringing snipers...

She pulls her SMG back from her coat and levels it at Mr. Metal's head, firing a short burst to take him out. Assuming that's successful, she rushes to the van to look for the sniper and provide cover against the approaching targets.

[Chaotic Bob]

[Red Zone Street]

Down in the basement, N'alae stops pointing the disruptor at that guy... "Given the tangible effect just now, I'm inclined to believe you."

And starts pointing it at the new arrivals.

"By order of the Altaran Irregulars, you two are leaving, and if you don't like it, my colleague outside has a gunship. Our presence is only going to release that thing. So I repeat, out. Through the door, no teleporting."

If they actually cooperate then she'll be following them out of the basement. If not she'll have to help force them out.

Caelynn's met her, oddly enough.

[QUOTE=GrandDM;16835611][Red Zone Street]

Shadow snorts derisively at the gunship threat, but complies. Nine appears out of the shadows, following him out.



[Red Zone Street]

Another sharp crack runs through the basement, stretching off from a different point on the floor.

The halo'd man turns around as everyone leaves, the warm glow of the sun spreading across his hands as he prepares to calm the imprisoned Father Llymic.

***

Upstairs, the leaving group encounters the armored woman!

She's giving Shadow and Caelynn a rather dirty look behind her helmet, one briefly dispensed to N'alae.
But they're leaving, so it's probably fine?
"Oh, everyone listens to Michael, but not the lady with the sword. I see how it is.
Damned show-off with his dusk crap..."

Ah, the joys of simple grousing.

It won't do anything at all to stop the floor from exploding under the group's feet as they try to leave.


An enormous pillar of blue ice erupts through the house, several feet wide and easily a few stories tall in height.
In its wake, it shatters a large portion of the basement's floor and the vast majority of the rest of the decrepit house.

Wood, plumbing, and mortar fly in all directions, more or less turning the entire house into a deadly fragmentation explosion.

The armored woman reflexively pulled a shimmering dome of light around her body as the floor erupted, only to have it shatter as she hit a wall and flew back through its crumbling structure.
She's left twisted on the ground just next to the house, dazed and trying to figure out what truck hit her. The bit of wood sticking out of her chest will probably become an issue sooner than latter.

As for N'alae, Shadow, Caelynn, and Nine?
That depends on them.

[Sewers]

Whatever Lyrina is following seems to have made its decision, as the loud sound of breaking ground and building travels back to her.

[Lost_Deep]

NO Escort

"Did you seriously not bring any sort of gun? How far?" he groans to the driver. Civilian status should not mean helpless when killing someone is that easy with a gun. I mean, it requires lucky aim and it wouldn't have worked well on these guys, but still.
"Cassidy! Finish that pisser off and support!" he roars. I mean geez, he just took on four people while she arm-wrestled one.
Krayger rushes forward to bury his axe in one of the thugs' head, trying to take them out ASAP. he's prepared to use his off-hand gauntlet to wrench their weapons away if they try to block.


NO Escort

Cassidy grimaces at Mr. Metal not giving up. She was trying to get this done with as few casualties as possible, so this gang didn't come after them later on. But since they were bringing snipers...

She pulls her SMG back from her coat and levels it at Mr. Metal's head, firing a short burst to take him out. Assuming that's successful, she rushes to the van to look for the sniper and provide cover against the approaching targets.

"Less than a block," The driver shouts. "And I'm just a scientist!"

One of the thugs dies, and another steps forward and swings, with his buddy close behind him.

Mr. Metal does not die, but is knocked unconscious. That metal coating is pretty good stuff. The pair approaching are quite a pair: one a stubbly, rugged man and one a shapely, sensual woman. Both have one mechanical arm, a hammer-like thing with one side made into an axe blade. They're a bit away from the Van yet.

Cassidy will also spot the sniper; something with green skin that is heavily tattooed with some small metal ridges adorning her. She's armed with a hunting rifle with a scope; not a real sniper but a fair approximation.

It seems that the group has brought out the freaks for this.

[Arkhosia]

Sewers

Lyrina lets loose a luminous laser able to punch a hole in concrete at the beast!

[Morcleon]

"Aww. Even though I'm not technological? That's an interesting side-effect." She winks at him, grinning just before her body goes stiff, and a cloud of steam jets out from its mouth, flowing around him and reforming into a humanoid figure, looking much like her body does.

"As for what I mean, I'm whatcha might call a ghost in the machine! Resurrection spell went wrong and bound my soul to a steam cloud, and I used my first body to build another, which I used to build this one, so I can change bodies like clothes."

"...that... changes things." Scythe smirks at the steamy Talnissa and walks over to the body, examining it. He slowly tips it over, and a table rises up from the ground to gently catch it. "Since you're not really tied to your body in anyway, just stay there and help me with things."

"Firstly, do you have any other technomancy magics in place?"

[Arkhosia]

Red Zone
Caelynn is thrown into the air by the impact, but manages to teleport a safe distance away!
She rushes to the woman and checks the injuries.
I'm going to get her help and reinforcements!
The first part is not said if the woman is dead or not seriously injured.

[GrandDM]

[Red Zone Street]

As the building explodes, Nine steps nimbly behind Shadow. All the fragments of building that hit him disappear into him, causing small ripples to travel across his surface, and never come out the other side.

When Caelynn decides to go for help, Shadow shakes his head.

"No, stay here. You'll be more use in a straight-up fight than Nine, and I highly suspect that's what we're about to become involved in."

[Deathkeeper]

NO Escort

Funny, I thought there was only 2 left.
Krayger spins his weapon, trying to deflect the thug's with the butt of the axe and bury the blade in his neck as it comes around, in a move that was definitely not inspired by the massive amounts of Assassin's Creed his player has been playing.
If the thug is successfully struck, he'll pivot so he can use him as cover from the other as he removes his axe and moves in for the last kill with an overhand chop capable of breaking most wooden weapons.

[Morcleon]

[Below the TV Tower]

"Funny how it works that way, isn't it?" Mikani observes, pulling out her wand once more and settling into a battle stance. "I think this one we should probably blast into a bazillion tiny pieces," the Magical Girl declares, grinning. "On three?"

[Below the TV Tower]

"I agree."

Hikari grins and forms her radiant cannon, jumping backward to stand beside Mikani. "Two... one..."

[Lady Serpentine]

"...that... changes things." Scythe smirks at the steamy Talnissa and walks over to the body, examining it. He slowly tips it over, and a table rises up from the ground to gently catch it. "Since you're not really tied to your body in anyway, just stay there and help me with things."

"Firstly, do you have any other technomancy magics in place?"

"Well, I wouldn't say no connection... Spells on them all so I feel what I ought to when I'm in them, and can taste and such..." As Scythe lowers the body onto the table, he'll find it oddly yielding at his touch, much more like flesh, if flesh that's somewhat firmer than it ought to be, than metal. "As for other technomantic spells in place, not that I know of."

She grins at him, as nearly as can be told, and flows over to him, wrapping her 'arms' around his waist, a pleasant warmth emanating from them as she does, her head being rested on his shoulder a moment later, a sense of pressure appropriate to the touches coming with it, though it won't impede his movements.

[Morcleon]

"Well, I wouldn't say no connection... Spells on them all so I feel what I ought to when I'm in them, and can taste and such..." As Scythe lowers the body onto the table, he'll find it oddly yielding at his touch, much more like flesh, if flesh that's somewhat firmer than it ought to be, than metal. "As for other technomantic spells in place, not that I know of."

She grins at him, as nearly as can be told, and flows over to him, wrapping her 'arms' around his waist, a pleasant warmth emanating from them as she does, her head being rested on his shoulder a moment later, a sense of pressure appropriate to the touches coming with it, though it won't impede his movements.

[Scythe's Place - Grey Zone]

"...I've never been hugged by a steam cloud before. It's quite comfortable actually. I don't suppose you could stay there for a while?" Scythe grins back at her before turning back to the body. He takes out a small rod-shaped device and plants it upright in the very middle of the body. With a faint whine, air-thin lines of gold and silver start to crawl across the metallic surface and partially meld into the body.

"This is a basic program designed to conceptually disguise the systems within your body to essentially not count as technology for many purposes. Since any sort of direct defenses can simply be overcome through sheer force, a misdirection can often be more useful."

[Murkus]

[Gags and Giggles]


"Yeah, that shouldn't be a problem," Uzume tells him. She grabs a tape measurer from her supplies and asks Sticks to hold still for a bit; as long as he complies, she'll start measuring his physical dimensions, starting with height and moving on to width and girth at various points, like shoulders and waist. "Once I've got all the necessary measurements," she explains while she takes notes, "it'll take some time to construct the deployable field and imbue it with the proper magic...a day at most. I could contact you when it's ready, or I could bring it to your place when I visit on Friday, if you don't mind waiting."

((If you have no objections, shall we assume that the day in question is a Wednesday?))

((No objections here. You can have Uzume come by the Toy Tinker any time, but I do have a lot of scenes Riverside right now. Might be prudent to wait till I wrap one up or move it elsewhere))

Sticks is hardly accustomed to having his measurements taken - as though he could afford a tailor, let alone a suit - and he is rather uncomfortable in the process. She'll be able to check it all without him fidgeting too much. The tall man's possessed of obvious height, but little else of obvious enormity. Narrow shoulders, a thin, wasted body and long, gangly limbs give him an almost skeletal frame.

"There is no hurry, my lady. I would rather you take your time than pressure you to complete it quickly. I'm sure you have other work to complete, after all," Sticks says, habitually tugging on his cloak. Anxious fellow.


[Aug Tower - Astrana and Valente]

Valente smiles at his girlfriend, glad to see her so enthused about this. His tail entwines with hers, but he keeps quiet still. He doesn't want to interrupt.

(Just tossing a quick reply out. Carry on without me otherwise.))


[Aug Tower - Astrana and Valente]

Astrana's heart makes a leap but yet she just keep that confident smile on her face. "The tail obviously." She moves it around for empathize before it settles behind Valente's back, attempting to grab his tail as if they were grabbing each others hands. She felt rather thrilled right now, though she might have to ask a bit more questions first. "But the parts about fire and heat as well." Grotesque rumors claimed they made fireproof gloves out of tiefling skin back in Elshar, and that wasn't even the worst ones. "I don't mind the questions, it's commonly asked within the fourth tower as well." There are the horns too, but I'm not sure how much of an benefit they are.

There is a pause, briefly, as the guard seems to be receiving additional information. "Miss Tyamera, would you be interested in an interview with Mister Maxwell 88, the director of our Frontier Division?" The employment officer asks as though Mr. 88 would be honored to meet Astrana.




When one deals with Equestrians one must be ready to endure the horse-puns. The worst part is that they probably aren't aware that the puns in question are even puns.

Again, it all seems to be some kind of drunken cosmic joke.

[B]"Huh," is about all Nova has to say regarding the explanation. Sounds like they might have found a way to make photons interact with the Higgs field, maybe? That would certainly get the job done.

"So what were those other people like?" Nova asks, pointing at the illusion of a dead planet. "I mean, obviously you guys never met them or anything. But you must have learned something about who they were."

"They were us," Max says quietly, drifting down amongst the holographic ruins of Hong Kong, circa ????. It's a wasted ruin, bases of skyscrapers squatting in the radioactive dust like mummified stumps, as the most ancient cities of man might look in the 21st century. "Another us. But unlike us, they didn't destroy themselves."



[COLOR="YellowGreen"]I'm the weaponmaster of House Eyrecrad. Name a mêlée weapon, and I've trained in it's use.

Hmm... a little of a draconic appearance would be great, but i'd prefer to not have scales.
Dracona replies.

"Then might I suggest a stun graft?" The orb says, as the hovering catalog disintegrates and reappears to show a muscular human torso. Grafted to the spine is a neural interface, glowing electrically, and a neon tube dangles down. A flexible claw juts from the other end of the tube. "Clamp that to your weapon - any weapon - and it will electrify the blade without harming you! The module can be grafted to any part of your body, though we recommend your back or arms for ease of access! Electrocute a rhinoceros, or merely incapacitate a human foe, it's all made easy with the handy holographic power gauge!"


"So be it! Say goodbye to that plain Jane in the mirror," The woman says, attempting to take Dracona by the hand and leading her down a side hallway. A room opens up, revealing a smooth metal operating table. "Lie down, dear." She isn't exactly pushy, but there's a lot of people here to get augments, free or otherwise.


"Yes, you can. I'd like a new leg. This one's got woodworm. And me crew heard you can fix them right up too, maybe." The unicorn speaks first, tapping her existing wooden prosthetic as she talks, to demonstrate the woodworm.

The pegasus looks most hopeful; he loves flying, although he can't fly with only one and a half wings.

The nanobot swarm pauses, turning in place gently, before it begins regretfully, "We are afraid we're unable to augment quadrupedal winged customers. Might I suggest..." Click. "Wait one moment. We've been informed that we can assist you. Please enter the tower and proceed into the elevator at the center of the auditorium."

[Lady Serpentine]

[Scythe's Place - Grey Zone]

"...I've never been hugged by a steam cloud before. It's quite comfortable actually. I don't suppose you could stay there for a while?" Scythe grins back at her before turning back to the body. He takes out a small rod-shaped device and plants it upright in the very middle of the body. With a faint whine, air-thin lines of gold and silver start to crawl across the metallic surface and partially meld into the body.

"This is a basic program designed to conceptually disguise the systems within your body to essentially not count as technology for many purposes. Since any sort of direct defenses can simply be overcome through sheer force, a misdirection can often be more useful."

[Scythe's Place - Grey Zone]

"If I minded sticking close, I wouldn't have grabbed ya, would I?", she teases, giggling softly as she shifts her arms up, legs taking their place around his waist. "And I wouldn't say any direct defense... What if one incorporated an outer shroud that redirects force back after running it through an amplifier, and an inner layer that absorbs attacks over a certain threshold and uses a portion of them to increase its strength so's to avoid burning out said amplifier, if that's a concern, while storing part for later use as attacks of one's own, as well as a subroutine to bypass the amplifier and simply redirect it if an additional threshold is met?

In theory, the redirection can be bypassed, but only by putting in sufficient force to shunt it into the absorption layer, and that can be bypassed, but only by using attacks that are weak enough that it can't use them to repair or enhance itself.

Also, each attack that they make harms them, meaning that they can't use their most powerful attacks or they'll kill themselves outright without harm to you."

[Darkcomet]

[Red Zone Street]

N'alae, for her part, ends up launched past where a wall used to be, hitting the ground hard. Strangely, she gets up awfully fast, and while her reinforced uniform is a bit torn now, the only visible wound is a cut on her cheek from the shrapnel that is rapidly ceasing to bleed. Although that'll probably be noticed less than the fact that the blood is a dark green color instead of one might expect.

That and her hat stayed on. That's also odd.

"Hold. Major, power back to the laser cannon and prepare to open fire. Is the individual from the basement still alive?"

The answer's not heard by the others. But Noelle up there in the gunship is using those senses to try and figure out if dusk guy is dead or not.

N'alae suspects something is up. If this is Llymic's manifestation, there shouldn't be any need to hunt it down in the first place, it's too obvious. That and the people who were there before probably would've mentioned the gigantic ice spike.

This isn't right.

[Shadowcaller]

[Aug Tower - Astrana and Valente]

"Of course, just tell me where you want me to meet him and I'll be there at appointed time." The tiefling declares. "I'm sure he's a busy man."

[ImpSyndrome]

[Gags and Giggles]

((No objections here. You can have Uzume come by the Toy Tinker any time, but I do have a lot of scenes Riverside right now. Might be prudent to wait till I wrap one up or move it elsewhere))

Sticks is hardly accustomed to having his measurements taken - as though he could afford a tailor, let alone a suit - and he is rather uncomfortable in the process. She'll be able to check it all without him fidgeting too much. The tall man's possessed of obvious height, but little else of obvious enormity. Narrow shoulders, a thin, wasted body and long, gangly limbs give him an almost skeletal frame.

"There is no hurry, my lady. I would rather you take your time than pressure you to complete it quickly. I'm sure you have other work to complete, after all," Sticks says, habitually tugging on his cloak. Anxious fellow.
((I don't mind waiting if you're busy. Just let me know when you have some breathing room, and we can pick it up then.))

"Alright, that should do it," the yokai girl says after completing her measurements. "Sorry about that, but I had to measure things out so I'd know how to let the magic field adjust to your movement. Now that I've got that info, you won't have to stand still to stay cloaked...OK, I'll have it for you on Friday for sure. Was there anything else you wanted, sir?" That last question almost sounds like an innocent joke, playing on both Sticks' mannerisms and on vendor-customer relations. She doesn't mean anything by it, of course; she's just trying to lighten the mood, seeing how nervous he seems.

[Devixer]

NO Escort

Cassidy aims her SMG at the sniper. Her contact lenses allow her vision to zoom in for better aim. It's no substitute for a rifle, but hopefully the burst she fires at her will be enough to take her out.

[Lost_Deep]

NO Escort

Funny, I thought there was only 2 left.
Krayger spins his weapon, trying to deflect the thug's with the butt of the axe and bury the blade in his neck as it comes around, in a move that was definitely not inspired by the massive amounts of Assassin's Creed his player has been playing.
If the thug is successfully struck, he'll pivot so he can use him as cover from the other as he removes his axe and moves in for the last kill with an overhand chop capable of breaking most wooden weapons.


NO Escort

Cassidy aims her SMG at the sniper. Her contact lenses allow her vision to zoom in for better aim. It's no substitute for a rifle, but hopefully the burst she fires at her will be enough to take her out.

However may thugs there were before, there are now none as Krayger uses his superior skill and strength to beat the last two. This just leaves the twins (for twins they are).

Cassidy's burst does not seem to hit the sniper, but she does get in cover. She isn't even going to peek out for a bit.

[Arkhosia]

"Then might I suggest a stun graft?" The orb says, as the hovering catalog disintegrates and reappears to show a muscular human torso. Grafted to the spine is a neural interface, glowing electrically, and a neon tube dangles down. A flexible claw juts from the other end of the tube. "Clamp that to your weapon - any weapon - and it will electrify the blade without harming you! The module can be grafted to any part of your body, though we recommend your back or arms for ease of access! Electrocute a rhinoceros, or merely incapacitate a human foe, it's all made easy with the handy holographic power gauge!"


"So be it! Say goodbye to that plain Jane in the mirror," The woman says, attempting to take Dracona by the hand and leading her down a side hallway. A room opens up, revealing a smooth metal operating table. "Lie down, dear." She isn't exactly pushy, but there's a lot of people here to get augments, free or otherwise.


Dracona follows, and lies down on the table.
----------
Hmm... Sounds interesting. I assume the claw and tube is stored on the neural interface?
Fenris asks.

[Earl of Purple]

Augmentation Tower

"Thank you, erm... Floating buzzy light thing." The unicorn smiles and teleports over, making short hops and never straying too far ahead or behind the other two ponies.

[TechnoScrabble]

Testing Clinic

A common place for desperate college students in need of quick cash, the Barlemoor Testing Clinic provides money for those willing to let trial drugs or products be clinically tested on them, and offers quick, cheap medical service for those in need.

As is inevitable in a place like the Nexus, something seems to have gone horribly wrong with one of the tests, as the inside of the clinic is a mess of shattered glass, splattered blood, and gnawed corpses. The testing area has been cordoned off and whatever beasts perpetrated this act have been locked on the other side of the titanium security curtain, but the security personnel monitoring the situation from the medical clinic don't look happy about the chances that their defenses will hold much longer.

[Ionbound]

[Testing Clinic]

A young woman with a bow run up to the security curtain, and asks the person in charge, "What happened here, and can I help?"

[Arkhosia]

[Testing Clinic]

A young woman with a bow run up to the security curtain, and asks the person in charge, "What happened here, and can I help?"

She's joined by Valia, The Tarrasque-Nuking Sniper of Skyside Fame!
What the **** 'appened 'ere?

[TechnoScrabble]

Testing Clinic

A man identified by his name tag as Peters steps forward to intercept her before she gets too close.

"There's been a breakout of something nasty, ma'am, we're thinking morphogenic parasite or retrovirus, fast acting and very contagious. We're waiting on backup from the Riverside Division or Remnant peacekeepers, but I'm not sure how long that'll take. Chief wants us to send in a team now, but there's not enough of us to hold the line if we do."

[Ionbound]

Therlynn doesn't really understand the scientific terminology, but gets the main idea and says, "Well then, it's a good thing I've already got something like that. I'll head in and check it out."

[Lady Serpentine]

[Testing Clinic]

Near the security curtain, a woman shimmers into being! Or at least, something did, anyway, but she's rather strange looking... Stylized, almost, in some ways, just a little bit off in terms of her proportions; too sleek and streamlined. She's also got a mercury sheen to her skin and hair, which certainly doesn't help, nor do the solid, save for a set of bright red lines quartering them, and perfectly circular, black orbs that are, apparently, her eyes.

Her clothing's strange as well, a white vest and a pair of close-fitting white pants, though they're at least apparently normal in themselves, even if the combination and lack of other shirt is odd. Especially when a pure white gas mask flickers into being over her mouth and nose.

She doesn't speak just yet, but it's pretty clear she's here for a reason, and how many reasons to show up can there be...?

[Arkhosia]

Got it. I might 'ave a radiation suit, would that help?
Valia asks.

[Deathkeeper]

NO Escort

Oh yeah, I remember the twins. The thing with Change, correct?
Krayger removes his axe from the thug's head. He gives it a quick wipe on the man's clothes before advancing into the path of the melee twins, swapping weapons again. Sadly, his player remembers continuity, which means his shotgun is out of ammo, which means he's going for the pistol. No point in using the marbles, he's just going to assume cyber-arms don't protect their brains, and just go for headshots before they can close on them.
"Cassidy, keep 'em off us if you can! Driver, get to that tire, we need to book it once we trash these clowns!" he hopes she doesn't mind him giving orders, because she doesn't appear to be doing so.

[TechnoScrabble]

Testing Clinic

"You ladies volunteering yo go in?" Peters bites his lip for a moment while he thinks, then nods.

"Alright, let's get you suites up. We don't want any more casualties."

He'll lead you to a room through an armoured door towards the back. The room is full of CCTV screens, though many show static or fractures lenses, and there is an armoury cage in the back of the room. A few security officers manage the room as best they can.


"Barlemoor prides itself on its safety precautions, ladies, and this is an isolated event, no tests with anything stored here have hinted at anything like this. That, and as you can see, much of our security coverage is down. The Chief is thinking this is a possible terrorist or corporate attack."

[Ionbound]

[Clinic]

Therlynn nods, and asks, "Where's the entry into the rest of the building?"

[Arkhosia]

Clinic

I got my own.
Valia pulls from her trenchcoat some armor
http://images.wikia.com/fallout/images/archive/d/dc/20120621192209%21Elite_riot_gear.png

[Lady Serpentine]

[Barlemoor]

"Suited up? What do you mean by that?", Quicksilver asks, her voice cool and oddly calm, apparently unconcerned by whatever it is that's going on here. "Is whatever's in there really so nasty you need to give us help before we get inside?"

[TechnoScrabble]

Testing Clinic

"I personally saw what was in there kill a man just by touching him, ma'am. And given the possibility of involvement with armed aggressors, I'm going to have to insist you grab a biohazard suit and an armoured vest. We have some nine millimeter SMGs in there, too," Peters gestures towards the armoury cage, then shows you a security layout pasted to the CCTVs. On the working screens you can see hallways and trial rooms overfull with blood and debris and populated by a horde of people with greenish tinged skin and jaws agape as they walk quickly about, looking for something.

"There weren't even that many people inside when this all went down...those things are fast and tough. The easiest way to drop them is head trauma, presumably brain damage, but you can kill them any other way if you work hard enough. Problem is, if a live one gets raw meat, it heals almost instantly, and the condition is contagious. At first, we were worried about killing them, but we captured one for examination and...they're not human any more.

"Now, the delivery area out back and the entire medical side has been taken back, but the main security room and the entire clinical trial area is overrun. We can get you in through the reduction vents we use to mitigate any biological or explosive attacks now that we're sure its not airborne, but you'll have to watch out for the security systems. There's nothing lethal, but the sound could give away your position. We need to get Doctor Ivy back here, we have a line to her cellphone right now, she's in the janitorial station in the back hall. With her out, we can firebomb the whole place clean."

[Ionbound]

[Outside Nurgle's Den]

Therlynn nods, and says, "So, we go in, save the woman, and get out, so you can blow the place to kingdom come. Simple. Just don't let the stuff get meat. Easy."

[Lady Serpentine]

[Testing Clinic]

"No suits. No armor," Quicksilver states flatly, her rather unnerving eyes narrowing as she glares at him. "The suit is unnecessary, as this is made so that it protects from all infections, not just those that are airborne," she goes on, tapping the gas mask. "I designed it myself, and it has proven highly effective.

As for armor it reduces speed and agility. I focus on both. Understood?"

[Arkhosia]

[Testing Clinic]

"No suits. No armor," Quicksilver states flatly, her rather unnerving eyes narrowing as she glares at him. "The suit is unnecessary, as this is made so that it protects from all infections, not just those that are airborne," she goes on, tapping the gas mask. "I designed it myself, and it has proven highly effective.

As for armor it reduces speed and agility. I focus on both. Understood?"

I got an Anti-Material Rifle, a .556 Assault rifle, a laser pistol, hunting shotgun, and a Fat Man. I don't need SMGs.
Valia says, taking off her coat and putting the suit on.
She puts the coat on over it and the vest.

[TechnoScrabble]

Testing Clinic

"I've seen enough crazy stuff in the Nexus to believe you. Here, take these so I can contact you. The entrance to the vents is on top of the building," Peters holds out a handful of earpiece phones.

[Ionbound]

Therlynn takes an earphone and looks at in uncomprehendingly for a brief moment, before she slides in in her pocket and starts to make her way to the entrance of the roof.

[Arkhosia]

Testing Clinic

"I've seen enough crazy stuff in the Nexus to believe you. Here, take these so I can contact you. The entrance to the vents is on top of the building," Peters holds out a handful of earpiece phones.

Valia puts it in her ear and pulls from her trench coat a black Anti-material Rifle
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0MrR02Lc1H4/TP6fCdE3KvI/AAAAAAAAABQ/jklOJx7JqoQ/s1600/Anti-material_rifle.png

[TechnoScrabble]

Testing Clinic

"I'll be following you on the cameras, let me know when you're at the vents and I can shut off security for thirty seconds so you can get in," Peters nods.

[Morcleon]

[Scythe's Place - Grey Zone]

"If I minded sticking close, I wouldn't have grabbed ya, would I?", she teases, giggling softly as she shifts her arms up, legs taking their place around his waist. "And I wouldn't say any direct defense... What if one incorporated an outer shroud that redirects force back after running it through an amplifier, and an inner layer that absorbs attacks over a certain threshold and uses a portion of them to increase its strength so's to avoid burning out said amplifier, if that's a concern, while storing part for later use as attacks of one's own, as well as a subroutine to bypass the amplifier and simply redirect it if an additional threshold is met?

In theory, the redirection can be bypassed, but only by putting in sufficient force to shunt it into the absorption layer, and that can be bypassed, but only by using attacks that are weak enough that it can't use them to repair or enhance itself.

Also, each attack that they make harms them, meaning that they can't use their most powerful attacks or they'll kill themselves outright without harm to you."

[Scythe's Place - Grey Zone]

"You could be secretly planning to kill me after I finish the upgrades on your body," he says in an amused monotone. "Or you could be trying to steal my technomancy techniques and sell them on the black market."

"Hm, that could work. I'd need to do it in a way that would allow the amplified energy to not burn out the outer layer, and you would probably need a much more efficient power generator to support that level of defense, but it could work." He grins and presses down on the upright rod, which hums in response and extrudes another layer of bright blue filaments.

[Chaotic Bob]

Sewers

Lyrina lets loose a luminous laser able to punch a hole in concrete at the beast!

A hole is indeed punched through the...whatever it is, before her.
Strange, her laser should have illuminated something.

Instead, there's just a displeased hiss from before her as something the rough shape and painfulness of a steel girder flares out towards her.


Red Zone
Caelynn is thrown into the air by the impact, but manages to teleport a safe distance away!
She rushes to the woman and checks the injuries.
I'm going to get her help and reinforcements!
The first part is not said if the woman is dead or not seriously injured.


[Red Zone Street]

As the building explodes, Nine steps nimbly behind Shadow. All the fragments of building that hit him disappear into him, causing small ripples to travel across his surface, and never come out the other side.

When Caelynn decides to go for help, Shadow shakes his head.

"No, stay here. You'll be more use in a straight-up fight than Nine, and I highly suspect that's what we're about to become involved in."


[Red Zone Street]

N'alae, for her part, ends up launched past where a wall used to be, hitting the ground hard. Strangely, she gets up awfully fast, and while her reinforced uniform is a bit torn now, the only visible wound is a cut on her cheek from the shrapnel that is rapidly ceasing to bleed. Although that'll probably be noticed less than the fact that the blood is a dark green color instead of one might expect.

That and her hat stayed on. That's also odd.

"Hold. Major, power back to the laser cannon and prepare to open fire. Is the individual from the basement still alive?"

The answer's not heard by the others. But Noelle up there in the gunship is using those senses to try and figure out if dusk guy is dead or not.

N'alae suspects something is up. If this is Llymic's manifestation, there shouldn't be any need to hunt it down in the first place, it's too obvious. That and the people who were there before probably would've mentioned the gigantic ice spike.

This isn't right.

[Red Zone Street]

Caelynn doesn't have to worry too much it seems.
While the woman certainly looks pretty banged up, a golden flame briefly laps across her body, sealing wounds in its wake, and devouring the wooden spike rammed into her chest.

A cough and a small twitch later and she's hauling herself up.
"Okay...first, what the hell is that, and second, ow again..."
She's probably not contributing much for a few moments, seeming a bit worn out.


Noelle's cursory scans are revealing...oddities.
The fellow in the basement is still there and alive, but unlike the woman, he isn't actually moving.

That's not the weird part.
The weird part is that there appears to be three of 'ice prisons' now, instead of just one, in a tight little cluster.

And that the giant ice spike is registering some really worrisome readings.
Not only does it register life signs of its own, but several.


Rather immediately, cracks ripple across the top of the spire, and a violent noise issues forth as it splits itself open.
The entire thing ripples and fractures as it bends over the remains of the house, raining sheets of ice and rubble down below.

For just a moment it hangs there, until it splits open once again, this time with a ground-rumbling roar issuing from what is without a doubt a massive maw at its tip.
As it roars, a deeper night seems to fall early as darkness rather forcibly overcomes what little light remains in the area.

From Noelle's vantage, this darkness appears to be rather localized, but still covering a concerning portion of the city.


This thing is most certainly not Father Llymic.

[Shadowcaller]

[Entering Inside]

After a looong walk (probably taking days) Mawile will finally find herself in Inside again. The Skarmory lands on the ground in front of her. <"Here we are, this is where you wanted to go isn't it?"> He asks.

[Lost_Deep]

Entering Inside

"<Yes it is... finally!>" Mawile breaths a sigh of relief. "<Thank you.>"

[Ionbound]

Testing Clinic

"I'll be following you on the cameras, let me know when you're at the vents and I can shut off security for thirty seconds so you can get in," Peters nods.

Therlynn nods, and starts to head up to the vents. When she's there, she says, Alright, open the vents.

[Morty]

[SHEOL Subsidiary Office]

Dipsnig rides up to the place on Viima, radiating confidence. He dismounts in front of the door and strides into the place.

[TechnoScrabble]

Testing Clinic

There is an affirmative grunt from Peters and with a beep and a click, the lock on the air vent rotates out of position. Thirty seconds on the clock!

[Arkhosia]

Sewers

Lyrina is beaned!

She is knocked back and pinned by it, then looses a laser again!

Street

Caelynn's already gone by the time he's done speaking!
She leaves a bandolier of dust and a note about how the Dust explodes if hit though!

[Ionbound]

[Clinic Vents]

Therlynn quickly leaps inside the vents and starts heading to the entry to the hallway.

[Arkhosia]

[Clinic Vents]

Therlynn quickly leaps inside the vents and starts heading to the entry to the hallway.

((Posting order, guys!))

Valia follows, rifle on her back

[Lord Raziere]

Deadwood Street- No Row Jewelers

Mr. Mennow tended to his shop. He was careful not to put four jewels of the same color in a row. Bad things happened when you put four jewels of the same color in row in Jeweler's shops. They tended to disappear, or worse.

Then a catfolk strolled in, walked in cowboy boots while wearing a leather jacket over a white shirt and black pants. He had a brass six-shooter holstered in his belt, as well a scimitar sheathed beside it. One of his eyes was covered by a eye-patchlike brass goggle. However most striking of all was that his fur was orange and his eyes blue.
"Erm....can I help you sir?"
"Yes, I would like some jewels."
"Really? what kind?"
"All sorts of kinds. For at least two reasons."
"Um....okay....how much money are ye willing to spend then?"
"None."
Suddenly Mr. Mennow's eyes widened he went for his own gun but the catfolk was quicker on the draw and shot first, the bullet flying through the air-
THUD
-and suddenly bursting into a net that enwrapped Mr. Mennow and made him fall to the ground unable to move.
"However that does not mean I will kill you. No need to die over some pretty crystals no?"
"Er I must you-"
"Yes, yes, do not four of the same color into a row, I know that."
He said as he puts gem after gem into his sack.
"Worry not my good shopkeep, you will not die! I will make sure of it."
"...Your going to put those out on the black market aren't you..."
"What!? No. I don't want to sell these. I just want to look at them because they're pretty. I've got other ways of fulfilling needs such as food and whatnot. I mean what else would you steal gems for? USEFUL things? Please, gems aren't useful. they're pretty but they're not useful. Why pay for them? Well with four....onyx exceptions..."
He said as he gathered three black gems and eyed the fourth.
"What! No...don't! Those gems will explode if you put them in a row!"
"Yes, which why I'm stealing them. I like explosions. they're pretty. But they hurt people, which sucks. Therefore I'm going steal these to cause an explosion so that I may watch it- but not harm anyone. Explosions would be so much more awesome if they didn't harm anything don't you agree? we could blow things up repeatedly and watch it all flying about and hear the boom. Just enjoy the explosion without any worrying who is harmed by it! Unless the explosion of course is needed for something like blowing some jerk who wants to take over everything, or mining. Explosions are good when they do that."
Mr. Mennow started to get the impression that was he was talking to a crazy person obsessed with explosions and pretty things. He watched him as he put three of the black gems in one pouch on one side of his belt and one gem in another pouch on the other side of his belt. Couldn't be too careful. The catfolk started to walk out of the shop when he was asked
"Oy, whats yer name anyway?"
"My name?"
The catfolk turned around with a flourish.
"My name is- Valcario! Valcario De Zentasa! I am many things- cowboy, pirate, thief of many objects but mostly boredom, steam tech user and lover of riches, explosions, fire, freedom and action! Remember it well! Bye!"
He then threw to the ground a brass orb that unfolded into a steam bike. He leapt upon it and sped away from the shop, while keeping his eyes peeled and his six-shooter at the ready in case of any pursuit.

OOC: haven't registered character yet, just introducing him and doing something different, trying to roleplay him in first then work out his capabilities after the fact.

[Arkhosia]

Deadwood Robbery!

Caelynn teleports in.
Crap, wrong place... Oh, robbery!
She tries to teleport onto the motorcycle's back!
Cue a swift concussion blast punch to the back of the head!
She appears to be slightly pregnant... Should she really be fighting?!

[Lord Raziere]

Deadwood Robbery!

Caelynn teleports in.
Crap, wrong place... Oh, robbery!
She tries to teleport onto the motorcycle's back!
Cue a swift concussion blast punch to the back of the head!
She appears to be slightly pregnant... Should she really be fighting?!

"Argh!"
He got punched in the head. Which led to the bike going out of control and him falling off, with everyone going at high speeds this means that the steambike crashes into a random building and Volcario rolls-bounce-rolls across the ground a few feet before righting himself.
"That hurt. I mean, thats my bike y'know? Now I gotta do things on foot! boring!"
He pointed his gun at her. He had only just came into town. What he was thinking, stocking up only on net bullets for this robbery? if all the people around here were powerful like that...he'd have to up his arsenal. or make a pure lethal gun to use when there is no other choice. Hrm. kind of random though. Good. he liked things random.

[Arkhosia]

"Argh!"
He got punched in the head. Which led to the bike going out of control and him falling off, with everyone going at high speeds this means that the steambike crashes into a random building and Volcario rolls-bounce-rolls across the ground a few feet before righting himself.
"That hurt. I mean, thats my bike y'know? Now I gotta do things on foot! boring!"
He pointed his gun at her. He had only just came into town. What he was thinking, stocking up only on net bullets for this robbery? if all the people around here were powerful like that...he'd have to up his arsenal. or make a pure lethal gun to use when there is no other choice. Hrm. kind of random though. Good. he liked things random.

Caelynn teleports to land on the ground as the bike crashes in a flurry of yellow petals. He'll have a few seconds to observe Caelynn's appearance before she sprints impossibly fast at him, pulling back her left arm to try and concussion-punch him!
Come at me,
And you'll see,
I'm more then meets the eye
Caelynn sings as she sprints.

[Lord Raziere]

"WAH!"
His trigger-finger reacts and shoots the net-bullet at her, while he tries to jump out of the way. What was her problem!? Its not as if he did anything to her! He was just procuring a few things relatively non-violently from someone else and then she turned up out of nowhere! and began punching him! How rude. She didn't even introduce herself. At least cops told him they were cops. They were professional about things. She was clearly not professional. Unless they started recruiting teleporting ninjas now. And if there was one thing he knew, it was that was that pirates and ninjas are destined to always conflict with one another. It was just the way of things. And he was a gorram pirate! Therefore she is a ninja. No doubt about it.

[TechnoScrabble]

College Campus

You'd think the eclipse and the apocalypse it heralda would be a sobering thing, but at the Inside College of Engineering, the party's in full swing, with students young, old, and ageless boogying down in the full midnight.

Watching them from the rooftop of the temporal sciences building is a tall, thin man with an angular body made entirely of inky, pitch black darkness with pupilless white eyes and a cartoonish, pointy grin wider than his face. Behind him is a small group of pale skinned people looking like a cross between perky goths and death metal fans, one clings lovingly to his arm.

"Is it time, love?"

"Not yet, dear. Let them have some fun first."

[Arkhosia]

"WAH!"
His trigger-finger reacts and shoots the net-bullet at her, while he tries to jump out of the way. What was her problem!? Its not as if he did anything to her! He was just procuring a few things relatively non-violently from someone else and then she turned up out of nowhere! and began punching him! How rude. She didn't even introduce herself. At least cops told him they were cops. They were professional about things. She was clearly not professional. Unless they started recruiting teleporting ninjas now. And if there was one thing he knew, it was that was that pirates and ninjas are destined to always conflict with one another. It was just the way of things. And he was a gorram pirate! Therefore she is a ninja. No doubt about it.

Caelynn is netted!
Too bad she teleports!
The slightly pregnant cat faunus teleports in front of the Gorham pirate catboy and tries to concussion-punch him!
Is she smiling?

[Beans]

College Campus

You'd think the eclipse and the apocalypse it heralda would be a sobering thing, but at the Inside College of Engineering, the party's in full swing, with students young, old, and ageless boogying down in the full midnight.

Watching them from the rooftop of the temporal sciences building is a tall, thin man with an angular body made entirely of inky, pitch black darkness with pupilless white eyes and a cartoonish, pointy grin wider than his face. Behind him is a small group of pale skinned people looking like a cross between perky goths and death metal fans, one clings lovingly to his arm.

"Is it time, love?"

"Not yet, dear. Let them have some fun first."
He may notice something moving on the belltower's side. Should he be able to see well in the dark (which one supposes he might, being made of darkness and all) he'll see a moth-person scuttling about the brick structure. Though folded, her wings' pattern is recognizable: beige shot through with iridescent blues and a white band, the colors of the female Ascalapha Odorata.
Which means, most likely, he's just found the hitwoman Black Witch.

[Lord Raziere]

Deadwood Robbery

Probably not smiling. Therefore Ninja. Ninjas are not known for their smiles.

He snaps his fingers and suddenly springs burst out of his boots to launch him into the air with a Boing

"Ok, so your clearly a ninja, your clearly mad for some reason, and you are trying to punch me. I can only conclude that your one of the members of a ninja clan I ticked off in the past."
He said as touched then, then Boing'd back into the air again.
"Look if its about that loud blonde guy, he had it coming. Guy seriously lost his cool over like what, noodles? He got what he deserved."
What he deserved being forced to hop around in a bunny suit for six and half days trying to get the key to get out of it. Only fitting punishment for a ninja trying attack him over ramen.

[Arkhosia]

He may notice something moving on the belltower's side. Should he be able to see well in the dark (which one supposes he might, being made of darkness and all) he'll see a moth-person scuttling about the brick structure. Though folded, her wings' pattern is recognizable: beige shot through with iridescent blues and a white band, the colors of the female Ascalapha Odorata.
Which means, most likely, he's just found the hitwoman Black Witch.

... why's a person in a green trenchcoat and black clothes with a shotgun on her back and cat ears climbing the belltower?


Deadwood Robbery

Probably not smiling. Therefore Ninja. Ninjas are not known for their smiles.

He snaps his fingers and suddenly springs burst out of his boots to launch him into the air with a Boing

"Ok, so your clearly a ninja, your clearly mad for some reason, and you are trying to punch me. I can only conclude that your one of the members of a ninja clan I ticked off in the past."
He said as touched then, then Boing'd back into the air again.
"Look if its about that loud blonde guy, he had it coming. Guy seriously lost his cool over like what, noodles? He got what he deserved."
What he deserved being forced to hop around in a bunny suit for six and half days trying to get the key to get out of it. Only fitting punishment for a ninja trying attack him over ramen.

What the Hell are you talking about? I'm not a ninja. Caelynn, Huntress and member of HALO. And it's either that or firing shotgun slugs at you.
She replies, sprinting to try and tackle him

[TechnoScrabble]

He may notice something moving on the belltower's side. Should he be able to see well in the dark (which one supposes he might, being made of darkness and all) he'll see a moth-person scuttling about the brick structure. Though folded, her wings' pattern is recognizable: beige shot through with iridescent blues and a white band, the colors of the female Ascalapha Odorata.
Which means, most likely, he's just found the hitwoman Black Witch.

"Tenebra, dear, any clue why a hitwoman would be here?" Jack scratches at his chin.

"No, love. Do...do I need to do something about it? Is she-" Tenebra quivers a little at the thought of a fight, still not used to the freedom Jack has granted her people.

"No, no. I'll get someone to talk to her."

Out of the shadows near the moth woman, a large, unnaturally proportioned being with a rictus grin and curling horns pulls himself from his home dimension and waves, trying to get her attention. A bogeyman!

"Urgh, 'scuze me, mizz! Ahny pahrtic'lahr reezon yoor heeyah?"

[Lord Raziere]

Deadwood Robbery



What the Hell are you talking about? I'm not a ninja. Caelynn, Huntress and member of HALO. And it's either that or firing shotgun slugs at you.
She replies, sprinting to try and tackle him

"Are you SURE your not a ninja? your fast and martial arts enough for it. That and the universe tends to make people ninjas if they are similar enough."
He Boings into the air again. He was bouncing all over the place!
"Though if your not jumping really high at me, you might just be a normal karate person. But even then, most of those guys are ninjas anyways, for a certain fluid definition of ninja. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to escape from you."
He then bounces in the direction of the rooftops, trying to get away by bouncing on top of them out of her reach.

[Arkhosia]

Deadwood Robbery



"Are you SURE your not a ninja? your fast and martial arts enough for it. That and the universe tends to make people ninjas if they are similar enough."
He Boings into the air again. He was bouncing all over the place!
"Though if your not jumping really high at me, you might just be a normal karate person. But even then, most of those guys are ninjas anyways, for a certain fluid definition of ninja. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to escape from you."
He then bounces in the direction of the rooftops, trying to get away by bouncing on top of them out of her reach.

I can teleport and have boosted speed, I'm not a ninja!
Caelynn tries to teleport over to grab onto him!

[Beans]

[College]
The Black Witch is well-known in certain circles for her sheer ruthlessness and willingness to gas whole floors of buildings for the sake of her contracts, as well as occasionally stabbing people in the brain with her proboscoid tongue.

This does not change the fact that she squeaks in surprise, and it is adorable.
Antennae wiggling, she frowns at the bogeyman. I'm stuck here on stakeout watching these idiots have their idiot party. Wouldn't be here if the money weren't as good as it is...

[Arkhosia]

[College]
The Black Witch is well-known in certain circles for her sheer ruthlessness and willingness to gas whole floors of buildings for the sake of her contracts, as well as occasionally stabbing people in the brain with her proboscoid tongue.

This does not change the fact that she squeaks in surprise, and it is adorable.
Antennae wiggling, she frowns at the bogeyman. I'm stuck here on stakeout watching these idiots have their idiot party. Wouldn't be here if the money weren't as good as it is...

Ark finally climbs up behind Black Witch.
Hello person!

[TechnoScrabble]

[College]

The bogeyman nods like a man who really only nods because he wants to pretend to be smart, "Okay, okay...Yoor, ahmm...not plannin' to murder nithin', are ya?"

And then Ark appears!

"Oh boy, yoor not killin' too, right?"

[Beans]

[College]
The moth lady squeaks in annoyance. Trust me, if I were allowed to kill these people, they'd all be sucking nerve gas right now.

Suddenly, another person bothering her! She's not happy about this.
Hush, adults are talking about mass murder too good to be true.

[Arkhosia]

[College]
The moth lady squeaks in annoyance. Trust me, if I were allowed to kill these people, they'd all be sucking nerve gas right now.

Suddenly, another person bothering her! She's not happy about this.
Hush, adults are talking about mass murder too good to be true.

Mass murder? Really? Can I join? I love mass murder!
Ark replies gleefully.

[TechnoScrabble]

College

The bogeyman waves and shakes his head frantically.

"Yool ruin the plan! No killing' tonight!"

[Lord Raziere]

I can teleport and have boosted speed, I'm not a ninja!
Caelynn tries to teleport over to grab onto him!

He is caught and falls, crashing onto a roof on his back.
"aaaaaaagh......dunno....sounds sort of ninja-ish to me. Ninjas are not known for being slow buggers, y'know? and some...ho, some move so fast they might as well be teleporting y'know?"
He contemplated his options as he lay under her. He could try kicking her, but she looks kind of pregnant. And he was pretty sure kicking an unborn baby was a good way to lose his loveable rogue status and go full what was it called, by those adventurers he once met? Chaotic Evil he believed was the term. and they were good friends of his, real trustworthy and he wouldn't want to disappoint his friends. Even if they had funny ideas about how the universe works like everything being morally sorted into nine categories.
"But hey maybe your right, maybe your not a ninja. However you do look kind of pregnant, which tells me you probably have a significant other! and I doubt he/she would be too happy if I did this"
He then tried to kiss her, then tried to take advantage of the confusion and slip out of her grip.

[Arkhosia]

He is caught and falls, crashing onto a roof on his back.
"aaaaaaagh......dunno....sounds sort of ninja-ish to me. Ninjas are not known for being slow buggers, y'know? and some...ho, some move so fast they might as well be teleporting y'know?"
He contemplated his options as he lay under her. He could try kicking her, but she looks kind of pregnant. And he was pretty sure kicking an unborn baby was a good way to lose his loveable rogue status and go full what was it called, by those adventurers he once met? Chaotic Evil he believed was the term. and they were good friends of his, real trustworthy and he wouldn't want to disappoint his friends. Even if they had funny ideas about how the universe works like everything being morally sorted into nine categories.
"But hey maybe your right, maybe your not a ninja. However you do look kind of pregnant, which tells me you probably have a significant other! and I doubt he/she would be too happy if I did this"
He then tried to kiss her, then tried to take advantage of the confusion and slip out of her grip.

He succeeds at distracting. She's rather stunned.
Hey!
Caelynn tries to tackle and pin him again after he escapes!

[Beans]

College

The bogeyman waves and shakes his head frantically.

"Yool ruin the plan! No killing' tonight!"

The moth lady rolls her eyes. Trust me, my job is not to kill anyone.
Yet.

[Arkhosia]

The moth lady rolls her eyes. Trust me, my job is not to kill anyone.
Yet.

Really? Because I'm 97.65625% sure you're an assassin.
Ark replies.

[Lord Raziere]

He succeeds at distracting. She's rather stunned.
Hey!
Caelynn tries to tackle and pin him again after he escapes!

Boing
And there he goes into the air again. Oh no, he is not going to get pinned again. Not if he can help it. He quickly switched out his net bullets. They clearly won't work for this opponent. He fished into his bullet pouch, what would work against her without killing her- AH! There we go. He put the new bullets in.
He then fired a few bullets at her as started to descend, they turned into copper fists as they flew forwards, a soft metal of course.
"I knew stealing that fist ammo design from Green Arrow would come in handy..."

[Arkhosia]

Boing
And there he goes into the air again. Oh no, he is not going to get pinned again. Not if he can help it. He quickly switched out his net bullets. They clearly won't work for this opponent. He fished into his bullet pouch, what would work against her without killing her- AH! There we go. He put the new bullets in.
He then fired a few bullets at her as started to descend, they turned into copper fists as they flew forwards, a soft metal of course.
"I knew stealing that fist ammo design from Green Arrow would come in handy..."

Caelynn is arrow-punched!
Hey bastard, catch!
She tosses at him a red crystal. Dust.
She then shoots it, causing it to likely blow up in his face and unbalance him.

[Lord Raziere]

Deadwood Robbery

"Ooooooh, pretty...."
The dust crystal explodes and knocks him off balance with the explosion, sending him flying.
"OOOOOOooh, PRETTIER!"
he said as he marveled at the explosion. Then crashed into a wall.
He tried to pick himself up, muttering to himself.
"Freaking ninja....explosions are a pirate thing..."
But he had sustained too much injury, and collapsed.
"Ooooooooooowwwww...."

[Arkhosia]

Deadwood Robbery

"Ooooooh, pretty...."
The dust crystal explodes and knocks him off balance with the explosion, sending him flying.
"OOOOOOooh, PRETTIER!"
he said as he marveled at the explosion. Then crashed into a wall.
He tried to pick himself up, muttering to himself.
"Freaking ninja....explosions are a pirate thing..."
But he had sustained too much injury, and collapsed.
"Ooooooooooowwwww...."

Caelynn teleports over!
For the last Goddamm time, I'm not a ninja!
By the way...
Caelynn crouches down to face him.
Try Skyside next time. No pesky laws there.
The cat Faunus stands up and tries to drag him back to the shop.
That's going to take a while.

[Beans]

Really? Because I'm 97.65625% sure you're an assassin.
Ark replies.

Well, tough. I'm getting paid for something other than murder, and the fact that they're paying enough is the only reason I'm here. Oh look, you're distracting me from my job, think I'll see you again never.
She squeaks in annoyance, flittering off the tower and over toward Jack and what I presume to be the Dimmer Witches, figuring they'll be more tolerable.

[Arkhosia]

Well, tough. I'm getting paid for something other than murder, and the fact that they're paying enough is the only reason I'm here. Oh look, you're distracting me from my job, think I'll see you again never.
She squeaks in annoyance, flittering off the tower and over toward Jack and what I presume to be the Dimmer Witches, figuring they'll be more tolerable.

I can help you kill people for free if you want!
Ark comments

[Lord Raziere]

Caelynn teleports over!
For the last Goddamm time, I'm not a ninja!
By the way...
Caelynn crouches down to face him.
Try Skyside next time. No pesky laws there.
The cat Faunus stands up and tries to drag him back to the shop.
That's going to take a while.

A while later....

He had recovered enough to start giving back the bags of gems. He tried to hand the two black gem bags back so that they formed a row but Mr. Mennow was too savvy for that.
"Man, so boring. I got a bunch of pain, a wrecked steambike and no gems, not even exploding ones. Well this ending at least. The flight/fight was actually pretty interesting. Good you randomly came! I would've started to get worried if it gone too smoothly! Which would be even more boring! Valcario De Zantasa thanks you Miss....Caelynn was it? For your piece of advice."
What. He was thanking you for foiling this? That was a first.
"However if you plan on turning me in to the slammer....I'm going to have to get really desperate and you wouldn't like me when I'm desperate. So please, the man has his gems back, so can I ask kindly to be let go so that I can repair my steambike, spruce it up a little so that I can fly over to Skyside, perhaps make some money there to come back and get the shinier ones in a legal-friendly manner someday?"

[Arkhosia]

A while later....

He had recovered enough to start giving back the bags of gems. He tried to hand the two black gem bags back so that they formed a row but Mr. Mennow was too savvy for that.
"Man, so boring. I got a bunch of pain, a wrecked steambike and no gems, not even exploding ones. Well this ending at least. The flight/fight was actually pretty interesting. Good you randomly came! I would've started to get worried if it gone too smoothly! Which would be even more boring! Valcario De Zantasa thanks you Miss....Caelynn was it? For your piece of advice."
What. He was thanking you for foiling this? That was a first.
"However if you plan on turning me in to the slammer....I'm going to have to get really desperate and you wouldn't like me when I'm desperate. So please, the man has his gems back, so can I ask kindly to be let go so that I can repair my steambike, spruce it up a little so that I can fly over to Skyside, perhaps make some money there to come back and get the shinier ones in a legal-friendly manner someday?"

Caelynn Turath. Of course! By the way, try getting your hands on a type of gem called Dust.
Carlton replies, striding away.
You were wrong about the significant other thing, by the way!

[Lord Raziere]

"Haha! I will! Goodbye then, Caelynn Turath! I will remember you as The Huntress Who Packs a Mean Punch."
He then walked off to his Steambike, and seemingly in unbelievably fast time, fixed it up, then seemed to add some bits and pieces that made it into a one-man steampunk flying machine, clockwork wings and a steam rocket engine, complete with a bronze eagle head decoration on the front. He then got into it and checking an old style map and compass, complete with "Here There Be Dragons Outside" for the Outside, oriented his steambike in the direction of Skyside, then zoomed forward, the rocket starting up and propelling him upwards over the roofs and the mechanical wings flapping in clockwork precision as he flew into the sunset towards the lawless city....

OOC: ok, that was a good introduction methinks! Thanks Arkhosia. I think I got a good idea about him now.

[Arkhosia]

"Haha! I will! Goodbye then, Caelynn Turath! I will remember you as The Huntress Who Packs a Mean Punch."
He then walked off to his Steambike, and seemingly in unbelievably fast time, fixed it up, then seemed to add some bits and pieces that made it into a one-man steampunk flying machine, clockwork wings and a steam rocket engine, complete with a bronze eagle head decoration on the front. He then got into it and checking an old style map and compass, complete with "Here There Be Dragons Outside" for the Outside, oriented his steambike in the direction of Skyside, then zoomed forward, the rocket starting up and propelling him upwards over the roofs and the mechanical wings flapping in clockwork precision as he flew into the sunset towards the lawless city....

OOC: ok, that was a good introduction methinks! Thanks Arkhosia. I think I got a good idea about him now.

((*bows* glad to help!))
Caelynn waves.

[TechnoScrabble]

The moth lady rolls her eyes. Trust me, my job is not to kill anyone.
Yet.


Really? Because I'm 97.65625% sure you're an assassin.
Ark replies.

"Well, urgh, alright...juss...uh..." the bogeyman disappears into the shadows.

Across the way, Jack turns and nods to the Dimmer Witches and they begin their magic. The shadows darken further and begin to spread...

Jack turns back around and waves to Black Witch as she approaches, a black stiletto forming in the hand kept politely behind his back.

[Beans]

[College]
So, what drags you out here, then? She flitters her wings a little as they fold closed.
I assume you're that guy's boss, then? You... smell the same. Her antennae wiggle a little. Did you send him to make sure I wasn't going to kill any of the little preps, then?

[Arkhosia]

[College]
So, what drags you out here, then? She flitters her wings a little as they fold closed.
I assume you're that guy's boss, then? You... smell the same. Her antennae wiggle a little. Did you send him to make sure I wasn't going to kill any of the little preps, then?

Ark leaves.

[TechnoScrabble]

College

"That is correct, Miss Palotl," Jack smiles and tilts his head slightly, one hand patting Tenebra's shoulder assuringly when she backs away from the trained killer, "I'm afraid any deaths at this point in the evening would run the risk of ruining my plans."

The shadows stretch until it seems less like shadows and more like the eclipse's darkness has overtaken the whole campus. Time seems to slow and the lights dim as a black fog rises from the darkness.

[Arkhosia]

College

"That is correct, Miss Palotl," Jack smiles and tilts his head slightly, one hand patting Tenebra's shoulder assuringly when she backs away from the trained killer, "I'm afraid any deaths at this point in the evening would run the risk of ruining my plans."

The shadows stretch until it seems less like shadows and more like the eclipse's darkness has overtaken the whole campus. Time seems to slow and the lights dim as a black fog rises from the darkness.

A large shadow appears behind Jack. It's black, birdlike wings expand outwards, with about a 8 foot wingspan, and it's eyes glow violet.
Boo.

[The Bushranger]

[Below the TV Tower]


"I agree."

Hikari grins and forms her radiant cannon, jumping backward to stand beside Mikani. "Two... one..."

"Zero!"

Mikani levels her wand at the skeletal warror, drawing on her earth magic as the tip glows brilliant green for a moment...before with a fweeeeeem sound a beam of emerald energy lances out at the undead monstrosity!

[Beans]

College

"That is correct, Miss Palotl," Jack smiles and tilts his head slightly, one hand patting Tenebra's shoulder assuringly when she backs away from the trained killer, "I'm afraid any deaths at this point in the evening would run the risk of ruining my plans."

The shadows stretch until it seems less like shadows and more like the eclipse's darkness has overtaken the whole campus. Time seems to slow and the lights dim as a black fog rises from the darkness.
I'm just here to make sure a certain hydrodynamics major doesn't attend. If he does, I'm supposed to... escort him home...

She doesn't seem to mind the darkness, since she was kind of born to fly in it.

[TechnoScrabble]

College

"Ominous, but alright," Jack nods and puts the stilletto back into the shadowanit came from.

He attempts to bind the thing that appears behind him with shadows around it, turning them from the soft shadows of the Dimmer Witches to the hard, dense, nightmare inducing shadows of the Jack of Shades..

"I do hope you have a good reason for interrupting me," he says with a tired sigh.

Meanwhile, Tenebra channels the Underbed's own inherent darkness into the shadows below, and where the fog touches students, most fall asleep where they stand, the others beginning to move ever more sluggishly and hallucinate.

"Full darkness and time stop are mitigated, sleep and nightmares working on those weaker minded or intoxicated but some resist...oh dear, please let this be enough!"

[Beans]

[College]
Squeak squeak irritated squeak.
So many fussy children butting in while Mommy and Daddy are talking... by the way, what exactly is the oogiest of boobies, so to speak, doing scoping out some prep party?

[GrandDM]

[Red Zone Street]

Caelynn doesn't have to worry too much it seems.
While the woman certainly looks pretty banged up, a golden flame briefly laps across her body, sealing wounds in its wake, and devouring the wooden spike rammed into her chest.

A cough and a small twitch later and she's hauling herself up.
"Okay...first, what the hell is that, and second, ow again..."
She's probably not contributing much for a few moments, seeming a bit worn out.


Noelle's cursory scans are revealing...oddities.
The fellow in the basement is still there and alive, but unlike the woman, he isn't actually moving.

That's not the weird part.
The weird part is that there appears to be three of 'ice prisons' now, instead of just one, in a tight little cluster.

And that the giant ice spike is registering some really worrisome readings.
Not only does it register life signs of its own, but several.


Rather immediately, cracks ripple across the top of the spire, and a violent noise issues forth as it splits itself open.
The entire thing ripples and fractures as it bends over the remains of the house, raining sheets of ice and rubble down below.

For just a moment it hangs there, until it splits open once again, this time with a ground-rumbling roar issuing from what is without a doubt a massive maw at its tip.
As it roars, a deeper night seems to fall early as darkness rather forcibly overcomes what little light remains in the area.

From Noelle's vantage, this darkness appears to be rather localized, but still covering a concerning portion of the city.


This thing is most certainly not Father Llymic.

Shadow snorts.

"Oh, darkness? Sure, bring it on. I'm made of shadows. What exactly do you expect to achieve here?"

He's not really expecting a response, but it's worth a try.

[Arkhosia]

College

Just... Observation.
The shadow replies.

[TechnoScrabble]

College

(Did the shadow grabbing work, Ark?)

"Mommy and Daddy? I appreciate your work as much as the next man, Miss Palotl, but you'll have to work harder to get that far," Jack chuckles and Tenebra casts an angry glare from behind the notepad she's writing on, "I like the title, though. 'Oogiest of Boogies', hehe, I'm gonna keep that one. I'm not here for the party, my dear, I'm here for a test."

[Beans]

[College]
She rolls her eyes. Just an expression and you know it... and as for your test, since it doesn't seem to interfere with my job, I'm curious.
She glances at the shadows goin' all doin' stuff, antennae twitching.

[Murkus]

Dracona follows, and lies down on the table.
----------
Hmm... Sounds interesting. I assume the claw and tube is stored on the neural interface?
Fenris asks.

"Do you consent to be sedated?" An electronic voice asks, from the darkness of the ceiling. Apparently that's the only consent they need.

--------

"Correct! The interface is small and easily concealed, but packs quite a punch! Can I interest you in one? Or perhaps even the deluxe model? The deluxe model is a bit more conspicuous, but considering it provides two charges and power-claws, along with a free machete thrown in, it's well worth the extra cost," says the orb.


Augmentation Tower

"Thank you, erm... Floating buzzy light thing." The unicorn smiles and teleports over, making short hops and never straying too far ahead or behind the other two ponies.

They'll find themselves in the vast, turning auditorium with seven augmentation paths around the outer rim. At the center, beyond the turning platform, is a large elevator inside a glass tube leading upward. The center spire.


((I don't mind waiting if you're busy. Just let me know when you have some breathing room, and we can pick it up then.))

"Alright, that should do it," the yokai girl says after completing her measurements. "Sorry about that, but I had to measure things out so I'd know how to let the magic field adjust to your movement. Now that I've got that info, you won't have to stand still to stay cloaked...OK, I'll have it for you on Friday for sure. Was there anything else you wanted, sir?" That last question almost sounds like an innocent joke, playing on both Sticks' mannerisms and on vendor-customer relations. She doesn't mean anything by it, of course; she's just trying to lighten the mood, seeing how nervous he seems.

((Sounds good. I'll try not to take too long. Probly after I wrap up the main Elexxion scenes))

"No, I think that will be all," Sticks says, fidgeting back into his regular semi-relaxed stance. By his smile, he's probably replying to it straight, but he may not have caught the joke at all. Another bow, with perhaps too much flourish. No, he got it. "I look forward to seeing you again, my lady Uzume." And that said, after a nod for her goodbye, the tall man will make his way home.


[Aug Tower - Astrana and Valente]

"Of course, just tell me where you want me to meet him and I'll be there at appointed time." The tiefling declares. "I'm sure he's a busy man."

"Busy, yes, but he prefers to make personal interviews when it comes to salaried employees. It's important to him," The lady from Employment assures Astrana. She'll then inform her of a time and place to be - namely a couple days later, in front of the Elexxion Corporate Offices in the Blue Zone at around midday. "Can I interest the pair of you in anything else today? Augmentations? Information? Most people think we're just cosmetic, but we have a lot more to offer."

[TechnoScrabble]

[College]
She rolls her eyes. Just an expression and you know it... and as for your test, since it doesn't seem to interfere with my job, I'm curious.
She glances at the shadows goin' all doin' stuff, antennae twitching.

"Ah, see, the ticket here is that I don't quite trust you enough to tell," Jack grins as he watches the results.

[Earl of Purple]

Augmentation Tower

All three ponies head off towards 'Healing'. If they like what they see, they might visit elsewhere and pay for additional augmentations- if they can afford them, anyway.

[Arkhosia]

College

(Did the shadow grabbing work, Ark?)

"Mommy and Daddy? I appreciate your work as much as the next man, Miss Palotl, but you'll have to work harder to get that far," Jack chuckles and Tenebra casts an angry glare from behind the notepad she's writing on, "I like the title, though. 'Oogiest of Boogies', hehe, I'm gonna keep that one. I'm not here for the party, my dear, I'm here for a test."


[College]
She rolls her eyes. Just an expression and you know it... and as for your test, since it doesn't seem to interfere with my job, I'm curious.
She glances at the shadows goin' all doin' stuff, antennae twitching.

The shadow is grabbed, but it may be difficult to hold on due to the abundant amounts of divine energy radiating from it.
It doesn't seem to interfere with mine either.
The goddess of Twilight, Chaos, and Change responds.

"Do you consent to be sedated?" An electronic voice asks, from the darkness of the ceiling. Apparently that's the only consent they need.

--------

"Correct! The interface is small and easily concealed, but packs quite a punch! Can I interest you in one? Or perhaps even the deluxe model? The deluxe model is a bit more conspicuous, but considering it provides two charges and power-claws, along with a free machete thrown in, it's well worth the extra cost," says the orb.


Draconia nods.

---
I'll purchase the deluxe model.
Fenris replies.

[Shadowcaller]

Entering Inside

"<Yes it is... finally!>" Mawile breaths a sigh of relief. "<Thank you.>"


[SHEOL Subsidiary Office]

Dipsnig rides up to the place on Viima, radiating confidence. He dismounts in front of the door and strides into the place.


"Busy, yes, but he prefers to make personal interviews when it comes to salaried employees. It's important to him," The lady from Employment assures Astrana. She'll then inform her of a time and place to be - namely a couple days later, in front of the Elexxion Corporate Offices in the Blue Zone at around midday. "Can I interest the pair of you in anything else today? Augmentations? Information? Most people think we're just cosmetic, but we have a lot more to offer."

[SHEOL Subsidiary Office]

Outside the office is a chain-smoking coat-dressed man in a fedora who keeps flipping this coin with his thumb for some reason. As Dipsnig approaches he throws the cigar away and addresses the goblin in a rather slimy voice. "Wha'cha here for?" He blows a cloud of smoke into the air and Dipsnig might note how smoke seems to be escaping his pockets as well for some reason.

Entering Inside

<"So... what are you planning to do now?"> The Skarmory asks curiously. <"You have great plans. I can tell.">

[Aug Tower - Astrana and Valente]

"Such as?" Astrana asks with genuine curiosity. "Tell me about the more practical enhancements."

[Beans]

"Ah, see, the ticket here is that I don't quite trust you enough to tell," Jack grins as he watches the results.
[College]
Fine, I'll just watch then. She focuses her attention on the students below, though her antennae are still attuned to what's going on all around her.

[TechnoScrabble]

College

A goddess, great.

Jack draws more power from the darkness around him, hoping to keep the goddess bound.

"And just what would you be here for, my good madam?"

Several Dimmer Witches scurry down below and begin taking notes and focusing on those students still awake, cushioning them in soft shadows and lulling them to sleep with songs from a lost world of night. Bogeymen begin to slip out of the shadows and scour the buildings.

[Arkhosia]

College

A goddess, great.

Jack draws more power from the darkness around him, hoping to keep the goddess bound.

"And just what would you be here for, my good madam?"

Several Dimmer Witches scurry down below and begin taking notes and focusing on those students still awake, cushioning them in soft shadows and lulling them to sleep with songs from a lost world of night. Bogeymen begin to slip out of the shadows and scour the buildings.

I'm a goddess of twilight. Should it really be so surprising I was drawn to here?
Lyrina replies.
She's still bound, but she's not exactly trying to escape...

[TechnoScrabble]

College

"I suppose so, but it still doesn't explain your intentions," Jacks crosses his arms and taps his foot expectantly.

[Arkhosia]

College

"I suppose so, but it still doesn't explain your intentions," Jacks crosses his arms and taps his foot expectantly.

My intention, sir, is to observe, nothing more
Lyrina replies, her voice tinged with slight causticity.

[Morcleon]

[Below the TV Tower]

"Zero!"

Mikani levels her wand at the skeletal warror, drawing on her earth magic as the tip glows brilliant green for a moment...before with a fweeeeeem sound a beam of emerald energy lances out at the undead monstrosity!

[Below the TV Tower]

A blast of golden light streams from the end of Hikari's radiant cannon, quickly following Mikani's blast. The twin shots connect with the warrior's armor, blowing a hole in the reinforced metal and sending it flying backward. A loud crunch sounds from somewhere further back and nothing else.

An exasperated sigh comes from the left. "Oh, youngsters these days... so violent and rough..."

[TechnoScrabble]

College

"Mmhmm. I can always trust a god not to interfere. What's the rest of your portfolio, miss?" Jack raises an eyebrow. Well...his eye makes a motion that suggests a raised eyebrow.

[Arkhosia]

College

"Mmhmm. I can always trust a god not to interfere. What's the rest of your portfolio, miss?" Jack raises an eyebrow. Well...his eye makes a motion that suggests a raised eyebrow.

Change, or Chaos. Pretty much the same thing really.
Lyrina replies with a shrug.

[TechnoScrabble]

College

"Ah. See, now, chaos used to be my thing," Jack nods and smiles, his eyes closed briefly, "But then I got smart. You see, chaos often gets in the way of things. I like change, I like unpredictable. What I don't like is obstacles."

Jack looks out over the campus as his minions go about their work and nods to Tenebra, who curtsies politely.

"I'm on to bigger and better things now. Soon, my obstacles will cease to be. The people of Inside deserve a better class of nightmare, and I..."

Jack's face darkens and he laughs, a low, coarse, rumbling sound.

"...Well...I'm going to give it to them."

[Arkhosia]

College

"Ah. See, now, chaos used to be my thing," Jack nods and smiles, his eyes closed briefly, "But then I got smart. You see, chaos often gets in the way of things. I like change, I like unpredictable. What I don't like is obstacles."

Jack looks out over the campus as his minions go about their work and nods to Tenebra, who curtsies politely.

"I'm on to bigger and better things now. Soon, my obstacles will cease to be. The people of Inside deserve a better class of nightmare, and I..."

Jack's face darkens and he laughs, a low, coarse, rumbling sound.

"...Well...I'm going to give it to them."
See, change and chaos are closely tied. Large quantities of change cause chaos.
Lyrina points out, before focusing, radiating magical light to try and break the bonds.
And I hope for your sake that nightmare won't be destroying all light. Creating an absolute, that's something I won't allow.

[TechnoScrabble]

College

Jack and the Underbed's shadows come from a place with no light, and are weak to it's burning wrath, but these have been bolstered by the light resistant darkness of the Dimmer Witches. The bonds weaken momentarily, but Tenebra focuses, not wanting to disappoint Jack, and they hold-however briefly it may turn out to be.

"No, no. You've got it all wrong," Jack chuckles, "The shadows are our most powerful weapon in this plan...but they are not the end to it, and neither is chaos. I want a controlled change, not a mess."

[Arkhosia]

College

Jack and the Underbed's shadows come from a place with no light, and are weak to it's burning wrath, but these have been bolstered by the light resistant darkness of the Dimmer Witches. The bonds weaken momentarily, but Tenebra focuses, not wanting to disappoint Jack, and they hold-however briefly it may turn out to be.

"No, no. You've got it all wrong," Jack chuckles, "The shadows are our most powerful weapon in this plan...but they are not the end to it, and neither is chaos. I want a controlled change, not a mess."

Good...
Lyrina replies, her light radiated relentlessly ravaging the shadow bonds still.

[TechnoScrabble]

College

"I apologize for speaking out of place, goddess, but could you stop that?" Tenebra asks, her voice a bit shaky.

"Now, dear, just because she's a goddess doesn't mean she's better than you. You're not a slave any more, kapiche?"

"Y-yes, love!"

[Arkhosia]

College

"I apologize for speaking out of place, goddess, but could you stop that?" Tenebra asks, her voice a bit shaky.

"Now, dear, just because she's a goddess doesn't mean she's better than you. You're not a slave any more, kapiche?"

Wait... does it hurt you as well? Because if so, I'll stop. And what he said.
She will stop if responded in the positive.
((also, is it bad I'm slightly interested in RPing a Dimner Witch?))

[TechnoScrabble]

College

"It is a bit of a strain when you struggle like that," Tenebra says almost apologetically.

"And we need her undistracted for the test. Scientific purposes, you see," Jack bull****s expertly, even using a word that probably isn't real.

((Nah, I can write up a description of what they are and where they come from, if you like. The males are the Black Bards, and Jack liberated them from a monster he met at a dating service.))

[Devixer]

NO Escort


However may thugs there were before, there are now none as Krayger uses his superior skill and strength to beat the last two. This just leaves the twins (for twins they are).

Cassidy's burst does not seem to hit the sniper, but she does get in cover. She isn't even going to peek out for a bit.


Oh yeah, I remember the twins. The thing with Change, correct?
Krayger removes his axe from the thug's head. He gives it a quick wipe on the man's clothes before advancing into the path of the melee twins, swapping weapons again. Sadly, his player remembers continuity, which means his shotgun is out of ammo, which means he's going for the pistol. No point in using the marbles, he's just going to assume cyber-arms don't protect their brains, and just go for headshots before they can close on them.
"Cassidy, keep 'em off us if you can! Driver, get to that tire, we need to book it once we trash these clowns!" he hopes she doesn't mind him giving orders, because she doesn't appear to be doing so.

Cassidy would be giving plenty of orders if this were a run more like the stealthy break-ins that she's used to. She's been in loud operations before, but never as a leader of that kind of fight.

She keeps an eye on the sniper, waiting for her to pop back up again. In the meantime, she turns her weapon onto the twins, firing a burst in their general direction.

[Arkhosia]

College

"It is a bit of a strain when you struggle like that," Tenebra says almost apologetically.

"And we need her undistracted for the test. Scientific purposes, you see," Jack bull****s expertly, even using a word that probably isn't real.

((Nah, I can write up a description of what they are and where they come from, if you like. The males are the Black Bards, and Jack liberated them from a monster he met at a dating service.))

ah
Lyrina stops, though she watches skeptically.
((Okay!))

[TechnoScrabble]

College

Within a few minutes, a bogeyman emerges from the shadows and bows.

"Job's a good 'in, yoor 'ighness!"

Jack claps his hands together and rubs them conspiriatorially (that may or may not be a word).

"Perfect! We have the plans? And the adjustments are made?"

"Done as done kin be!"

"Wwwwwonderful! Tenebra, dear, let your people finish taking the notes, then lift the spell, could you? I have somewhere to be, shortly."

"Yes, love!" another curtsy.

((The Dimmer Witches and Black Bards come from Quietia, a planet of eternal darkness and creatures that hunt by sound. As such, while it seems like they control shadow, the Witches actually control darkness, which is why they complement Jack so well, they eliminate his weakness. They can't harden it and use it offensively like Jack, but they can darken areas, cause sleep and hallucinations, make the darkness tangible (and comfy!), stifle sound and light, and slow time in dark areas, plus your typical, witchy herbs, brews, charms, and broom riding. The Black Bards have sonic attacks and lullabies and the words of power and are pretty much heavy metal assassin musicians. Their home planet is ruled by a tentacle monster that rules thousands of other world's, but Jack managed to whisk away all the 12-22 year olds from Quietia by stealing them from their two academies, but the others are still there, as well as those already shipped off as slaves. They're not used to freedom yet, and have a Gothic/metal theme to them. Jack's been training them to work with his night wyverns.))

[Arkhosia]

College

Within a few minutes, a bogeyman emerges from the shadows and bows.

"Job's a good 'in, yoor 'ighness!"

Jack claps his hands together and rubs them conspiriatorially (that may or may not be a word).

"Perfect! We have the plans? And the adjustments are made?"

"Done as done kin be!"

"Wwwwwonderful! Tenebra, dear, let your people finish taking the notes, then lift the spell, could you? I have somewhere to be, shortly."

"Yes, love!" another curtsy.

((The Dimmer Witches and Black Bards come from Quietia, a planet of eternal darkness and creatures that hunt by sound. As such, while it seems like they control shadow, the Witches actually control darkness, which is why they complement Jack so well, they eliminate his weakness. They can't harden it and use it offensively like Jack, but they can darken areas, cause sleep and hallucinations, make the darkness tangible (and comfy!), stifle sound and light, and slow time in dark areas, plus your typical, witchy herbs, brews, charms, and broom riding. The Black Bards have sonic attacks and lullabies and the words of power and are pretty much heavy metal assassin musicians. Their home planet is ruled by a tentacle monster that rules thousands of other world's, but Jack managed to whisk away all the 12-22 year olds from Quietia by stealing them from their two academies, but the others are still there, as well as those already shipped off as slaves. They're not used to freedom yet, and have a Gothic/metal theme to them. Jack's been training them to work with his night wyverns.))

Lyrina just observes.
((ooh, interesting!))

[TechnoScrabble]

College

The Dimmer Witches and Black Bards finish their work, and a pile of notepads is delivered to Jack, who promptly whisks them away into one of his pockets of absolute shadow. He releases Lyrina with a knowing nod and a 'you behave, now' and bows slightly to Tenebra.

"I must be going now, dear. Stay safe," he pulls a small child's been out of seemingly nowhere and disappears beneath it.

"I will!' Tenebra curtsies and then, just a second and a half after Jack is gone, meekly squeaks, "I love you!"

The black fog fades away and Jack's minions blend into the crowd as the party resumes as if nothing happened.

[Arkhosia]

College

The Dimmer Witches and Black Bards finish their work, and a pile of notepads is delivered to Jack, who promptly whisks them away into one of his pockets of absolute shadow. He releases Lyrina with a knowing nod and a 'you behave, now' and bows slightly to Tenebra.

"I must be going now, dear. Stay safe," he pulls a small child's been out of seemingly nowhere and disappears beneath it.

"I will!' Tenebra curtsies and then, just a second and a half after Jack is gone, meekly squeaks, "I love you!"

The black fog fades away and Jack's minions blend into the crowd as the party resumes as if nothing happened.

Lyrina's shadow façade vanishes, and she strides away, deep in thought... and vanishes! Almost like an illusion or hologram...

[TechnoScrabble]

College

"Oh, my!" Tenebra gasps and ushers a bogeyman over, giving him a message to send to Jack.

[Beans]

[College]
Milly observes the goings-on with mild bemusement.
Well now... shadows, nightmares, somebody's wifey, goddesses... this is all terribly interesting, but I'm sure my contract has been well and truly completed...
She turns to Tenebra, pulling out a card with a vector of her wings on it, the other side bearing a number in Braille. My card... I doubt Jack needs it himself, but you can keep it.

Whether the card is accepted or not, the moth-lady starts to flitter away.

[TechnoScrabble]

College

"Oh, I'm not his wife, m'lady," Tenebra says as she pockets the card. She sounds kind of sad about it.

[Beans]

[College]
Milly sighs. I'd help you with that, dearie, but unless murdering people will get the wedding bells ringing---which, admittedly, seems more likely here than with most couples---I haven't even advice to give on how to find a spouse you won't get bored of and devour.

[TechnoScrabble]

College

"Oh, I'd hardly devour anyone!" Tenebra gasps, mortified, "Devouring someone seems like such a horrid thing to do! Besides...I hardly think he'd want me...he really doesn't seem to...well, to love anyone at all."

[Beans]

[College]
Milly pauses, sighing. Well, neither have I... I have been awfully hungry, though.
...
Wait a second, female moths don't eat mates like mantises.
Maybe she's just weird.

[Arkhosia]

[College]
Milly pauses, sighing. Well, neither have I... I have been awfully hungry, though.
...
Wait a second, female moths don't eat mates like mantises.
Maybe she's just weird.

Hey, is that... is that a dove of pure shadow that just landed nearby?

[TechnoScrabble]

College

"I'm not sure I want to know what you mean by that, m'lady," Tenebra is certain none of the moths of Quietia were known for eating people or each other...


The dove catches her attention. So much going on tonight!

[Beans]

[College]
Milly giggles, wings opening. It may mean whatever you least wish it to mean, dear.
She leaps off the edge of the building backwards, flittering off into the buildings of Inside.

[Arkhosia]

The dove just stands there, radiating slight divine energy.
... wait.
That's not a normal shadow construct dove!

[TechnoScrabble]

College

Tenebra swallows nervously and waves goodbye to Milly, and turns her attention to the dove.

Even without the harsh, blinding light of the Hive-Queen's enslaver drones, the people of Quietia are averse to light, preferring the impenetrable, soft darkness they can call up. Tenebra ducks away from the dove in into the shadows, willing the dark to protect her as best it can.

[Arkhosia]

College

Tenebra swallows nervously and waves goodbye to Milly, and turns her attention to the dove.

Even without the harsh, blinding light of the Hive-Queen's enslaver drones, the people of Quietia are averse to light, preferring the impenetrable, soft darkness they can call up. Tenebra ducks away from the dove in into the shadows, willing the dark to protect her as best it can.

The dove acts like a normal bird.
Nothing special.
Also, the divine energy isn't visible light.

[TechnoScrabble]

The dove acts like a normal bird.
Nothing special.
Also, the divine energy isn't visible light.

Woop , my bad!

Tenebra walks over to the dove and takes a knee in front of it, taking the time to keep her dress proper.

"And what are you here for?"

[Arkhosia]

Woop , my bad!

Tenebra walks over to the dove and takes a knee in front of it, taking the time to keep her dress proper.

"And what are you here for?"

It stares at her.
Chirp.

[TechnoScrabble]

College

Oh my.

Tenebra tries to shoo the bird away.

[Arkhosia]

College

Oh my.

Tenebra tries to shoo the bird away.

The bird emits an angry cheep for disturbing it as it flies away, roosting on the bell tower.

[TechnoScrabble]

College

Tenebra sighs. Her work here is done anyways, it's time to head home.

She calls up bogeman, and the two sneak off to a dorm to disappear beneath one of the beds.

[Arkhosia]

College

Tenebra sighs. Her work here is done anyways, it's time to head home.

She calls up bogeman, and the two sneak off to a dorm to disappear beneath one of the beds.

Is that her imagination, or is the same bird on the dorm's windowsill? :smallconfused:

[TechnoScrabble]

College

Tenebra stops just before the bogeyman opens a portal using the bed.

"Why are you following me, pray tell?"

[Arkhosia]

College

Tenebra stops just before the bogeyman opens a portal using the bed.

"Why are you following me, pray tell?"

Chirp.
The bird ***** it's head.
((Jack may later dig up some info on Lyrina by the way: her sacred animals are wolves and doves))

[TechnoScrabble]

college

***** its head? Sounds painful.

Tenebra backs away from the window. Something isnt right.

[Arkhosia]

college

***** its head? Sounds painful.

Tenebra backs away from the window. Something isnt right.

I meant it moves it's head slightly to the left, an action who's word also means a curse word.

[TechnoScrabble]

College

I know that, but does the word filter know that?

Tenebra keeps an eye on the dove.

[Arkhosia]

College

I know that, but does the word filter know that?

Tenebra keeps an eye on the dove.

Just wanted to make sure.
The bird stares at her.
It's kinda creepy.

[TechnoScrabble]

College

Tenebra is a very brave girl, but that doesn't mean she can't be a very fearful girl, too.

"Shoo now, please. Shoo away."

[Arkhosia]

College

Tenebra is a very brave girl, but that doesn't mean she can't be a very fearful girl, too.

"Shoo now, please. Shoo away."

The bird's still there. It looks in a different direction though.

[TechnoScrabble]

College

Tenebra takes the chance to dash off to a different room with the bogeyman. She's certain this pigeon shouldn't be allowed to observe a portal opening.

[Arkhosia]

College

Tenebra takes the chance to dash off to a different room with the bogeyman. She's certain this pigeon shouldn't be allowed to observe a portal opening.

Another one's in every single room's windowsill.
Creeeeeeeepy.

[Zefir]

[Small Solar Temple]

Does that sun statue seem more...pale?
Probably just a trick of the twilight.

[Small Solar Temple]

((Posting since it has been a week))

Since KR seems to be distracted by the spell she is using, Mia thinks it's best to go on. In worst case she can call back for help after all. So Mia and her robot friend head again for the attached room. MDM going in front to cover Mia from any attacker. She also takes a look left and right of the entrance just to be sure.

[Darkcomet]

[Red Zone Street]

Caelynn doesn't have to worry too much it seems.
While the woman certainly looks pretty banged up, a golden flame briefly laps across her body, sealing wounds in its wake, and devouring the wooden spike rammed into her chest.

A cough and a small twitch later and she's hauling herself up.
"Okay...first, what the hell is that, and second, ow again..."
She's probably not contributing much for a few moments, seeming a bit worn out.


Noelle's cursory scans are revealing...oddities.
The fellow in the basement is still there and alive, but unlike the woman, he isn't actually moving.

That's not the weird part.
The weird part is that there appears to be three of 'ice prisons' now, instead of just one, in a tight little cluster.

And that the giant ice spike is registering some really worrisome readings.
Not only does it register life signs of its own, but several.


Rather immediately, cracks ripple across the top of the spire, and a violent noise issues forth as it splits itself open.
The entire thing ripples and fractures as it bends over the remains of the house, raining sheets of ice and rubble down below.

For just a moment it hangs there, until it splits open once again, this time with a ground-rumbling roar issuing from what is without a doubt a massive maw at its tip.
As it roars, a deeper night seems to fall early as darkness rather forcibly overcomes what little light remains in the area.

From Noelle's vantage, this darkness appears to be rather localized, but still covering a concerning portion of the city.


This thing is most certainly not Father Llymic.

Well. That's unfortunate.

N'alae's response is simple.

"Major, fire."

And so Noelle does, firing on the giant icy thing with her gunship's heavy laser cannon and its twin, smaller energy beam turrets. The light they cast off might help a little, I dunno, but most importantly, she's firing on it, with lighty burny things made for taking out tanks (the cannon) and...uh, most anything without exceptionally heavy armor (the beams). Aircraft-mounted weaponry tends to be pretty nasty like that.

As for N'alae herself, she does something very...

Odd. And much less simple.

She first takes off her hat, tossing it off into the air, before a swirling green column of light (much like when she transported in, oddly enough) surrounds her.

When it fades, she is encased in an unusual sort of armor. It looks more like cybernetic armor plating attached to her, because it sort of is, although the visored helmet is a little different in that regard. It bears a resemblance to Borg exo-plating (http://en.memory-alpha.org/wiki/Borg), but sleeker and more advanced-looking, plus the helmet and Irregular color scheme. Most notably, a wicked-looking weapon deploys from a retracted form attached to the right forearm, encasing N'alae's hand and ending in four nasty-looking points, with a sickly green glow emitting from the center of the spiky device.

With a mechanical whir, the heavy plasma weapon is raised in the icy...thing's general direction.

"Time for a field test."

And then a barrage of deadly (and very green) plasma launches toward the monster. Most horrendously enough, that can probably match something on the level of Noelle's gunship's beam turrets for power. :smalleek:

[Lost_Deep]

NO Escort

Oh yeah, I remember the twins. The thing with Change, correct?
Krayger removes his axe from the thug's head. He gives it a quick wipe on the man's clothes before advancing into the path of the melee twins, swapping weapons again. Sadly, his player remembers continuity, which means his shotgun is out of ammo, which means he's going for the pistol. No point in using the marbles, he's just going to assume cyber-arms don't protect their brains, and just go for headshots before they can close on them.
"Cassidy, keep 'em off us if you can! Driver, get to that tire, we need to book it once we trash these clowns!" he hopes she doesn't mind him giving orders, because she doesn't appear to be doing so.


NO Escort

Cassidy would be giving plenty of orders if this were a run more like the stealthy break-ins that she's used to. She's been in loud operations before, but never as a leader of that kind of fight.

She keeps an eye on the sniper, waiting for her to pop back up again. In the meantime, she turns her weapon onto the twins, firing a burst in their general direction.

The twins hold up their weapons in a way to protect their heads as they advance. Thier bodies are still peppered with bullets, and they slow down and can't do much. The sniper peeks out, but doesn't do anything yet.

The Driver doesn't seem to object to taking orders. He grabs the tire and the jack and goes around front to get to work.

[TechnoScrabble]

Another one's in every single room's windowsill.
Creeeeeeeepy.

Tenebra backs out into the hallway, and begins to consider calling Jack back.

[Arkhosia]

College

The birds don't really do anything.

[TechnoScrabble]

College

Tenebra peeks into several empty rooms, checking for birds on window sills, and finally resolves to investigate.

Well...to make a bogeyman investigate.

"Urgh...hulloo burdy?" it grinds the words past it's deformed jaw.

[Arkhosia]

College

Tenebra peeks into several empty rooms, checking for birds on window sills, and finally resolves to investigate.

Well...to make a bogeyman investigate.

"Urgh...hulloo burdy?" it grinds the words past it's deformed jaw.

The dove just chirps at him.

[TechnoScrabble]

College

The bogeyman wags a disapproving claw at the bird.

"Now, I knawoo too aren't a nahrmal burd!"

[Arkhosia]

College

The bogeyman wags a disapproving claw at the bird.

"Now, I knawoo too aren't a nahrmal burd!"

It just chirps at him.
I'm not sure they understand people.

[TechnoScrabble]

College

The bogeyman tries to whistle at the dove, thinking maybe that will work, but it just comes out as a hail of spit. Bogeymen aren't really good at vocalizations.

[Arkhosia]

College

The bogeyman tries to whistle at the dove, thinking maybe that will work, but it just comes out as a hail of spit. Bogeymen aren't really good at vocalizations.

The bird chirps angrily at him as it's drenched, glaring at him.

[TechnoScrabble]

College

The bogeyman grimmaces and apologizes, trying to dry the bird off with the curtains!

[Morty]

[SHEOL Subsidiary Office]

Outside the office is a chain-smoking coat-dressed man in a fedora who keeps flipping this coin with his thumb for some reason. As Dipsnig approaches he throws the cigar away and addresses the goblin in a rather slimy voice. "Wha'cha here for?" He blows a cloud of smoke into the air and Dipsnig might note how smoke seems to be escaping his pockets as well for some reason.


"I'm here to talk business," Dipsnig says, managing not to wrinkle his nose at the smoke. "You work for SHEOL. I would like you to work for MERC instead." Well, talk about getting straight to the point.

[Arkhosia]

College

The bogeyman grimmaces and apologizes, trying to dry the bird off with the curtains!

He succeeds, despite a few angry chirps and looks.

[TechnoScrabble]

College

Lacking better judgement, the bogeymen attempts to carry the bird over to Tenebra, who will promptly squeak in surprise if he is successful.

[Arkhosia]

The bird chirps irritatedly, but doesn't escape or flee.

[TechnoScrabble]

College

Tenebra calms herself and pats down her dress before solving to speak to the dove.

"You are no normal bird."

[Deathkeeper]

The twins hold up their weapons in a way to protect their heads as they advance. Thier bodies are still peppered with bullets, and they slow down and can't do much. The sniper peeks out, but doesn't do anything yet.

The Driver doesn't seem to object to taking orders. He grabs the tire and the jack and goes around front to get to work.

NO Escort

As the twins stop Krayger uses his last two shots to aim lower and shoot out one of their kneecaps each while they're protecting their heads.

[Lost_Deep]

Entering Inside

<"So... what are you planning to do now?"> The Skarmory asks curiously. <"You have great plans. I can tell.">

((Sorry I missed this!))

Mawile sighs. "<I wish. I've thought about it, and I honestly don't know what to do. The law enforcement here doesn't go out of inside, so I'd have to find some group willing to step up. But I can't talk, I don't know who to ask if I could... before I make any plans at all, I need to figure out that I can do.>"

[Murkus]

[Aug Tower - Astrana and Valente]

"Such as?" Astrana asks with genuine curiosity. "Tell me about the more practical enhancements."

"Currently, we offer physical enhancements, direct mental performance augmentation, access to the Elexxion Blacknet via a neural chip inserted into the brain, cloning services, memory transference in the event of an emergency, lethal and non-lethal combat body-mods, along with an array of the aforementioned cosmetic augs."



Draconia nods.

---
I'll purchase the deluxe model.
Fenris replies.

A long, spindly mechanical arm descends from the ceiling to puncture Dracona's exposed neck. And just as easily, she'll awake about thirty minutes later, face feeling slightly taut and sore but otherwise unchanged.

A mirror has already descended from the shadows of the upper room, and it shows the face of a beautiful woman Dracona may not recognize. It is a harsh, cold beauty she now possesses.

-----

"Deluxe! Excellent, sir. Right this way..."

Fenris will be treated in a similar manner. However, rather than a lonely operating table, there is a cylinder stood up in the center of the room, and two attendants wait on either side. Should he step inside, he'll be allowed to choose either sedation or simple anesthetic applied to the desired points of installation. After removal of his armor, naturally.

He, too, will soon be made better. He'll step out of the cylinder with a slightly jutting metal body-mod, arcs of electricity dancing across his skin's surface like a live wire.


Augmentation Tower

All three ponies head off towards 'Healing'. If they like what they see, they might visit elsewhere and pay for additional augmentations- if they can afford them, anyway.

The three equine customers will be directed through the lavish green gate, the inside of which almost resembles a peaceful hospital ward. Here, the injured or disabled begin the first steps to total recovery.

((Gonna have to wait on Rebo for this one. His char was providing blueprints for quadruped augments))

[Arkhosia]

"Currently, we offer physical enhancements, direct mental performance augmentation, access to the Elexxion Blacknet via a neural chip inserted into the brain, cloning services, memory transference in the event of an emergency, lethal and non-lethal combat body-mods, along with an array of the aforementioned cosmetic augs."



A long, spindly mechanical arm descends from the ceiling to puncture Dracona's exposed neck. And just as easily, she'll awake about thirty minutes later, face feeling slightly taut and sore but otherwise unchanged.

A mirror has already descended from the shadows of the upper room, and it shows the face of a beautiful woman Dracona may not recognize. It is a harsh, cold beauty she now possesses.

-----

"Deluxe! Excellent, sir. Right this way..."

Fenris will be treated in a similar manner. However, rather than a lonely operating table, there is a cylinder stood up in the center of the room, and two attendants wait on either side. Should he step inside, he'll be allowed to choose either sedation or simple anesthetic applied to the desired points of installation. After removal of his armor, naturally.

He, too, will soon be made better. He'll step out of the cylinder with a slightly jutting metal body-mod, arcs of electricity dancing across his skin's surface like a live wire.



The three equine customers will be directed through the lavish green gate, the inside of which almost resembles a peaceful hospital ward. Here, the injured or disabled begin the first steps to total recovery.

((Gonna have to wait on Rebo for this one. His char was providing blueprints for quadruped augments))

Dracona looks at her new face in awe.

--------------

Fenris observes the augments with interest



College

Tenebra calms herself and pats down her dress before solving to speak to the dove.

"You are no normal bird."

The dove just stares at her for a bit and chirps.

[TechnoScrabble]

College

Tenebra falls back on some basic witchy powers and casts a charm to speak with the dove.

"Who sentnyiu, pray tell?"

[Arkhosia]

College

Tenebra falls back on some basic witchy powers and casts a charm to speak with the dove.

"Who sentnyiu, pray tell?"

Lyrina, squawk! Lyrina!
It talks like a pirate's parrot.

[TechnoScrabble]

Lyrina, squawk! Lyrina!
It talks like a pirate's parrot.

"The goddess who earlier addressed Lord Jack?" Tenebra raises an eyebrow, "Whatever does she need?"

[Arkhosia]

"The goddess who earlier addressed Lord Jack?" Tenebra raises an eyebrow, "Whatever does she need?"

Confirmation, Squawk!
The bird replies.

[TechnoScrabble]

Confirmation, Squawk!
The bird replies.

"Confirmation? Confirmation of what?" Tenebra tilts her head inquisitively.

[Arkhosia]

"Confirmation? Confirmation of what?" Tenebra tilts her head inquisitively.

Not causing absolute darkness, squawk!
The bird replies.