Nexus Riverside 15 [Archive] - Page 6 - Giant in the Playground Forums

Solidarity

2014-10-23, 10:50 PM

[DART HQ - Attack of the Sith]

Recoiling a bit form his earlier attempt to comb the other buildings' higher levels, Seyren will quickly assume something prevented him from using the force. His abilities, while not normally too powerful on their own, were generally very reliable and consistent. If it failed, it did so due to interference. Watching the force lightning fizzle and lightsabers short out upon contact of the agents proved that to the acolyte. That'd mean a slight change in Seyren's approach.

As the agents shot back, Seyren weathered the storm of poisonous darts, deflecting them with ease. This was his specialty after all, and it showed. The gemstone focusing the saber did its work as the young man immediately changed his stance once the shooting began, giving him the mental nudges to move his blade right where he needed to parry the shots. It was until the railgun fired that Seyren thought all was still under control. A streak is all that was registered a split second after it blazed past the acolyte. After the first shot, Seyren made a decision. He had faith that his masters were fine, and without looking back, he took a deep breath. Judging by where the massive rifle was pointed, intuition assisted by the Lorridian Gemstone, and visualizing the trajectory lines with the Force, Seyren kept himself in line with wherever the next shot was aimed.

Let's hope eyepatch has a plan. his thinks to himself, his wild grin undying.

Seyren will glue his normally vacant eyes to the gunman's every twitch, waiting for the next shot to go off.

Devixer

2014-10-23, 11:43 PM

Northside Museum of Natural Nexus History

The Crown Jewels of House Garrard are proudly displayed in a typical glass case in the center of the open exhibit. The crown itself is composed of platinum, and fitted with several expensive gems of many shapes and colors.

Security seems a little lax, actually. It makes sense, really. This museum doesn't have the backing of any kind of government, and only keeps afloat from the investment of local patrons.

Hattish Thing

2014-10-24, 01:07 AM

Dart Headquarters:

The Sith had not been predicting such a thing from occurring, however, the disabling of their Force abilities will begin what seems to be a chain reaction deactivating everything from the powers of telekinesis to the the crimson lightsabers wielded by the warriors. However, the draconians possessed long and sharp claws, due to their nature. The incredibly long and somewhat serrated claws will probably find their marks easily, for the well-trained Talynborn Sith were made for this. A single Dark Jedi had been known to be able to slaughter thirty clone soldiers during the days of the Clone Wars, despite the heavy army they wore. Imagine the effects of these particularly Dark Jedi against unarmored opponents. The thick armor the draconic soldiers wear protect them from the darts, the tiny shafts unable to penetrate through armor. However, at least two of the draconic enemies will find themselves pierced in lightly-armored areas as they swing.

Luckily, the Talynborn were literally born of usually harmful toxins, artificial poisons and force-giving fluids flowed through their greenish blood. Still, the lethal toxin has a sort of effect upon them, making them drowsy and slow to the point of being little use in combat. Without their force powers here, the pair of Talynborn shot are veritably useless. However, there's still forty-eight others with claws and teeth swinging about, hate in their slitted eyes. The DART agents will either meet their end by the Sith's large teeth and maw, or by claw.

Atrocity, however, is still being fired upon. He's atop the barricade of cars, gazing upon the battle. He was far too slow in body to activate his saberspear here, and wouldn't have nearly enough time to deflect the many bullets fired upon him. Instead, he'll simply rely upon the same thing he had most his life, The Force. With a wave of his hand, the bullets firing at him will pause a few feet before him. As soon as the clip is done being blasted at him, he'll simply let the bullets drop to the ground, bouncing down the cars with a clank. Now, in response, he'll take down his dark hood, revealing a horrific sight for the man firing the large gun at him. Not long ago, the Sith Lord had begun his search for the Object of Numbers, an ancient artifact that offered incredibly power, at an even greater cost. The Objects had been sought after for many years in The Nexus, and only a few of it's inhabitants claim one. The Sith gave his sight, along with his mind and bodily strength, in exchange for the power the Object gave him.

The gunman will find it nearly impossibly not to suddenly stare into the horrid eyes of Atrocity. His face is heavily scarred, clearly the result of some sort of knive. He's missing his mortal eyes, and in place of them, two hot embers, deeper and darker than all of hell glare out at him. Suddenly, the gunman may find his greatest fears rip through his mind. After less than thirty seconds, the images will literally scare him to death. His bodily fluids ceased moving, his heart stopped, his hair white as snow. Fear was the way of this Object, and the way of the dark side. To make things a little scarier, Atrocity decides to make a show of power here. The Sith considered fighting singular opponents far below him, and much rather preferred the simple art of pure destruction. So, with a loud cackle and a cry, he gestures forward with his metallic and clawed hands at one of the wooden buildings close by.

The building will suddenly find it's braces and boards keeping the structure from standing suddenly ripped, the entire upper section of the building separated by the bottom. As the Jedi Master Yoda taught, size meant nothing with the force. This advice meant the same even for Sith, and for a Sith as in tune to the dark side as Atrocity was, this was possible. Atrocity will cause the small structure to rise into the air, before he'll simply throw the building at the center compound, wondering what'd happen. The Sith will shout out to the others as he literally brings down buildings. "Now witness the sheer power of the Dark Side! I am but a God to these pitiful fools!"

"WITNESS YOUR DESTRUCTION."

Lady Serpentine

2014-10-24, 07:36 AM

Aric Kale

2014-10-24, 10:29 AM

DART HQ - Sith Attack

Well, Korwil essentially useless, given how the Force doesn't work on the agents.
For now, he's forming a one-sided Force Shield around Atrocity.

KerfuffleMach2

2014-10-24, 10:59 AM

DART HQ - Sith Attack

Ravanys gets a bit confused as her lightning gets blocked. That wasn't supposed to happen.

However, she doesn't have long to think about it, as the agents start firing at them.

A few things work in her favor on this. Mainly the draconic warriors between her and the agents. They block most of the darts.

For the darts that do make it past, Ravanys uses her lightsabers to block them easily. She may not have fancy and showy Force powers like the others, but she was pretty much a natural with her weapons.

Ravanys lets Atrocity do his attack before she decides what to do. She wants to see how that works first.

Murkus

2014-10-24, 06:39 PM

[Dragon Inn]

Sticks does, in fact, not know how Obriane is feeling. The tall man remains standing while the two inebriated ladies sit, and he swallows a little awkwardly. "Obriane this is... this is quite serious," Sticks says squeamishly, still a bit blue in the face and altogether having trouble continuing this conversation without embarrassing himself.

While Obriane and Kanya put questions to eachother, Sticks takes the opportunity to glance at Kitty. Many tailed foxes, and humans with fox tails... what lore did he recall...

Fenric

2014-10-25, 10:22 AM

[DART HQ - Sith Attack]

Slow little poison darts have no hope of doing anything against toxic dragons, and the agents who face them are swiftly torn to shreds.

Bullet, singular - the railgun is in a PIE field itself, and therefore subject to the limitations of charge-pump circuitry to recharge the capacitors that power the magnet array. It takes nearly a minute, and the gunner had been hoping the other 11 would delay things enough let him recharge.
Instead, he looks into the eyes of doom and shudders: unable to look away or even particularly move. His breathing becomes rapid and shallow and he trembles violently. His eyes go wide, then turn red as tiny blood vessels burst. He stands that way half a minute before the more supernatural effects take hold and his hair flashes white from roots to tips and he goes perfectly still, standing in a grim parody of life for a moment before collapsing to the ground.

The first wooden building has no particular defense against being uprooted, and it crashes noisily into the unfinished walls of the central building, sending them crashing into rubble.

Should anyone be paying attention, the only six living people left in the compound are fleeing out a door in the back wall.

Gullara

2014-10-25, 02:09 PM

[Dragon Inn]

"Last time she had it off too long I got to touch her boobs." She grins a silly grin between the three present. "Hands off, though. They're mine." She sticks her tongue out at Sticks for no other reason than that he was looking at her.

Shadowcaller

2014-10-25, 03:06 PM

Ionbound

2014-10-25, 03:23 PM

[Dragon Inn]

Kanya blinks and says, "Ooookay then. You get possessed? Huh...I wonder..." She trails off, thinking but not voicing her thoughts.

Solidarity

2014-10-25, 03:35 PM

[DART HQ - Attack of the Sith]

Before Seyren rushes up to join the onslaught with his draconic brethren, he'll witness Atrocity's power. A shiver ran down his spine as he saw the life leave the gunman's eyes. He'd have to remember to ask how to do that.

After the buildings collide, the acolyte will sprint after a few small fleeting figures in the distance attempting to escape the wreckage.

ThePhantom

2014-10-25, 09:55 PM

AMENside-> Dart Headquarters

Now, you can't go throwing buildings around and not attract attention. Therefore when orders come in and buildings are breaking, a squad of twenty is send out. This squad uses the rooftops as their route to the battlefield. Once they are close enough to overlook the destruction, they halt.

"Well, that's bothersome.""Truth, but orders are orders."

And with that, the squad opens fire with standard guns on the sith warriors, trying to focus their fire on the rank and file. After all, its not likely a bullet will take out a sith lord so why waste bullets?

Shadowcaller

2014-10-26, 05:24 PM

ThirdEmperor

2014-10-26, 05:37 PM

[Northside Museum of Natural Nexus History]

and later that night..

There's a long creak as the Burglar pries the skylight open, the hinges protesting rust and long neglect. He's crouched on the roof, fingers dug in between the tile, looking down through nightvision goggles at the prize jewels below. The prize, and also the waiting trap. Nobody leaves something this valuable sitting around with no security. No cameras, barely any guards, not even proper doors?

And then there's that itchy, skin-crawling sensation of being watched. Somebody has it out for him tonight.

Not gonna stop him.

There's a gauntlet of foam and padded leather over his right arm - A miniature crossbow mounted to the wrist, the bolt claw-headed and trailing cable to an automatic winch on the glove's forearm. It's an easy shot, straight down, the line spiraling out behind the bolt as it falls, and the thief gives a sigh of relief as the suction-cup tipped fingers close around the corner of the bulletproof glass case. He tugs the line once to make sure it's a solid grasp, before whispering into his headset. "Okay, uh, got it. Your turn."

Devixer

2014-10-26, 06:55 PM

Northside Museum of Natural Nexus History

The Burglar is able to get up to the skylight and fire his crossbow without any problems. So far, so good, right?

Shadowcaller

2014-10-26, 07:08 PM

ThirdEmperor

2014-10-26, 07:35 PM

[Northside Museum]

As the base of the pedestal crumbles away, the line snaps taut and begins to reel upwards. Thanks to the surprisingly powerful little servos and motors spinning the wheel, the display should be lifted steadily up - case, jewels and all - towards the skylight and into the awaiting hands of one cunning supercriminal, eagerly envisioning his future riches.

And that, friends, is the plan for snatching the bait away without once setting foot inside the trap.

Murkus

2014-10-26, 09:13 PM

[Dragon Inn]

When Sticks gets the tongue from Kitty he looks away, face crinkled with crippling awkwardness. "Miss Kitty..." The tall man begins. "This is will seem a terribly strange inquiry, but... what are you, exactly?"

Recaiden

2014-10-26, 09:14 PM

[Riverside, OR, the literal banks of the river]

A pair of surveyors in Eastside municipalities uniforms are working their way along the river, document the natural and magical-catastrophe-related changes to the landscape.

Gullara

2014-10-26, 09:50 PM

[Dragon Inn]

Obriane giggles at Kitty's reply. "That's not what they meant you silly fox!" She declares while trying to swat at one of Kitty's tails. "I get possessed! Kitty is just obsessed with my boobs!"

[Dragon Inn]

Kanya blinks and says, "Ooookay then. You get possessed? Huh...I wonder..." She trails off, thinking but not voicing her thoughts.

[Dragon Inn]

When Sticks gets the tongue from Kitty he looks away, face crinkled with crippling awkwardness. "Miss Kitty..." The tall man begins. "This is will seem a terribly strange inquiry, but... what are you, exactly?"

[Dragon Inn]

Kitty giggles at Sticks, finding him quite silly. "Um, I'm a kitsune. Like, I'm kinda like a fox and stuff." Kitty waves her four tails to make her point. "It also means I'm very foxy. Right Obriane?"

Shadowcaller

2014-10-26, 11:05 PM

[Dragon Inn]

"What are you thinking about?" Obriane asks Kanya with a goofy smile.
She then laughs out loud at Kitty's joke. "She's the foxiest! Just look at her foxy tails!" The changeling leans out behind kitty, falling into the coach so she can snuggle with all the fox-tails at once.

Ionbound

2014-10-26, 11:15 PM

[Dragon Inn]

Tanya frowns and says, "Hrm. A kitsune is a type of spirit, yes? Stick, do you think she might be creating these Chimerae...unconsciously?"

Devixer

2014-10-27, 01:01 AM

[Northside Museum of Natural Nexus History]

There is no reply, Cybil couldn't form words in her vampire-form. But she could still understand them just fine. She herself was approaching the glass-case from the opposite direction, coming from below. Her earth shaping abilities allowed her to tunnel underneath the building and her supernatural senses created a very simplistic picture of what was above and around her.
After some time slithering around pipelines and electrical cords underneath the building she had positioned herself right underneath the glass case and now she was by the Burglar's orders starting to undermine the stand to allow the Burglar to lift them up with his grappling hook.

[Northside Museum]

As the base of the pedestal crumbles away, the line snaps taut and begins to reel upwards. Thanks to the surprisingly powerful little servos and motors spinning the wheel, the display should be lifted steadily up - case, jewels and all - towards the skylight and into the awaiting hands of one cunning supercriminal, eagerly envisioning his future riches.

And that, friends, is the plan for snatching the bait away without once setting foot inside the trap.

Northside Museum

With how much the Cat Burglar's focusing on his crown, he might not notice the flashbang being thrown up to the skylight and detonating.

Cybil may notice movement from something human shape heading straight for the glass case. The time for subtlety is over now, time for Cassidy to get moving.

Murkus

2014-10-27, 08:40 PM

[Dragon Inn]

Kitsune. Lovely word. Unfortunately, he couldn't claim to know very much about them. "I certainly hope you aren't some variety of spirit-being, Lady Kitty," Sticks says, furrowing his brows. He's more than happy to swivel so he can face Kanya, as soon as the bad puns and snuggling start. How embarrassing. "It's doubtful. This is all supposition, but I think who or what-ever cobbled together these nightmarish things hasn't made one recently. There is an old, finite group. They followed a... master or, ah, 'creator' figure here, into the Nexus from some frigid wasteland."

"I think it's also doubtful, Kanya, that Miss Obriane is that evil figure, conscious of her actions or otherwise," Sticks adds, after a brief delay. He glowers, but not really at Kanya, so much as at this whole situation. "I have a way to make certain, at any rate. The creature the... twisted boy's soul that destroyed my shop? I have him, still. Bound." Sticks doesn't think he needs to say it, but all they need do is show Obriane to the wretched thing. Then, then they can be sure. If Obriane isn't the creator, as Kanya thinks, maybe she'll mean something else to him.

Gullara

2014-10-27, 10:40 PM

ThirdEmperor

2014-10-28, 07:46 AM

Hattish Thing

2014-10-28, 01:13 PM

[Sith Attack - Atrocity]

As Atrocity shouts, he may just find himself cut off mid-rant. Well, not really, but that's probably what it would sound like to everyone else (though those with ridiculously keen senses might still be able to hear distorted echoes of his voice) if they knew he had more to say past when he is. He's still perfectly capable of shouting as much as he likes, but it's highly unlikely that anyone will hear him much past 'pitiful fools', given that he should suddenly find himself completely surrounded by a mass of shadows, strangely solid and real - a complete sphere, should he check, displacing some of the cars that he was standing on upwards, though despite the effect on those outside, he can still hear what's going on outside perfectly clearly.

The source of the effect isn't immediately obvious - especially since given the aesthetic cultivated by most Sith, it's not exactly likely to be implausible to those watching that this is something Atrocity did himself. Whoever - or whatever - caused it, though, that's not likely to be her only contribution to this fight... At least, based on how such things commonly go; showing up just to wrap up one side's commander? That's simply rude!

The orb of darkness takes it's hold over Atrocity, blocking him in, shadows flashing all around him. The Sith will growl to himself, gripping his walking stick and activating a small button. A long saber-blade, more spear than katana-shaped, pops out from the end. Now, he waits for something to come close, knowing that just when the shields go up, an attacker is soon to follow. He'll grip the blade with both of his metallic limbs, his hood up, revealing his horrific eyes. Atrocity will shout out now, his crackly voice a sign of age and wear on the body. "Now, now... Come forward, my little friend. No need to hide from me, come, face me!" He chuckles darkly to himself, walking backwards to where his back is against the shadow, closing off the chance of being stabbed from behind. He'll gesture forward now with the glowing spear.

"Come now, face me! Don't be a coward."

---

As for the battle, the draconic soldiers will now spend this time collecting whatever they can from the rubble of DART. At the same time, a few head over to start setting the remaining buildings on fire. Gasoline and a torch will most likely do the job just fine. None of them will pursue the running operatives, but should the Acolytes wish to head forward and chase, they can.

Shadowcaller

2014-10-28, 05:04 PM

[Northside Museum]

Gods be damned, what was going on up there now?!
Cybil really wished she could communicate like this but no such luck. The yell in her communicator told her something was wrong however so she had no other choice but to emerge and see what was going on. Whoever was running towards them was probably a security guard or something so they had to take them out but first she had to save the Burglar.
So Cybil emerges right behind the podium for the jewels in her worm-like vampire form to see what's going on.

[Dragon Inn]

"Kitty would never ever do anything evil." Obriane insists as she caresses Kitty's hair and tails while seemingly being lost in her eyes. "She's my little foxy fox spirit." I'm pretty sure you said that already Obriane. The changeling then giggles loudly and looks away from the Kitsune for a moment. "But I could do whatever you want if you think it's important, Sticky. A ruined shop sounds awful!"

Ionbound

2014-10-28, 09:40 PM

[Dragon Inn]

Tanya shrugs and says, "I have no idea at this point. Should I go get Zareen? She'd want to be there."

Aric Kale

2014-10-28, 09:41 PM

DART HQ - Sith Attack

Korwil can sense that these new shadows are not of Atrocity's design, and since he doesn't use ears to hear, the wraith knows what the Sith is saying.

Traise will do his best to find the source of the shadows, unless it is evident that Atrocity is in grave danger...if that is the case, then he will try and use the Force to disperse the darkness.

KerfuffleMach2

2014-10-28, 10:18 PM

DART HQ - Sith Attack

Ravanys sees the first group of defenders running and smiles to herself. They had a sense of self preservation. That'd make dealing with them easier.

But then, a squad of new combatants arrives and opens fire on the warriors. And they're doing it from a rooftop, increasing the difficulty for the warriors.

The tiefling looks back to Atrocity, to see if he's gonna crush another building to deal with them. Instead, she sees a shadow bubble. And she has no idea who made it, or what's going on inside.

Not seeing much she can do to help with that, Ravanys turns her eye back to the new squad. She holds up a palm towards them, and lightning bursts from it. She wasn't picking a target in particular. Just the group in general.

ThePhantom

2014-10-29, 12:21 AM

DART HQ - Sith Attack

Hm, well normally lightning wouldn't do much to Greed Squad, they have a bracelet that channels that, but that's sith lightning so what they do is quickly fall back on the rooftop. Hopefully that should take them out of the line of fire. As for their next trick, they try throwing flashbang grenades. Sure, some will certainly be thrown back at them, but they have goggles to handle that and hopefully the sith forces don't.

Fenric

2014-10-29, 07:25 AM

[Sith Attack]

Seyren sprints after the six fleeing DART agents, which gives them a chance to get out into the field beyond the compound. Noticing their pursuer, they turn... are rather at a loss what to do. The most senior of the agents addresses Seyren, pointing out the obvious difficulty.

That's enough, you cheap movie knock-off: your toys and special effects can't hurt us, and our darts won't even make it all the way to you unless you're dumb enough to get too close.

He seems awfully nervous for such a bold statement... all of the agents continue to back away

The dragons will find construction equipment! The "base" had only just started being built on top of what might have been a temple once, but someone dropped a sizable bomb on it. The wooden structures were only recently built, clearly meant to be temporary, and equally on top of foundations that were violently cleared off.

The second wooden structure goes up in flames without resistance

Solidarity

2014-10-29, 11:22 AM

[DART HQ - Attack of the Sith]

Closing the distance with each heavy, hulking step, an unnerving grin slowly becoming trademark will find its way back onto Seyren's face. The acolyte's eyes widen like a predator as the senior agent turns.

Leave none alive.

Master's orders.

He took a gamble.

Saying nothing, Seyren shuts off his lightsaber. Using the force before within range of their generators, he quickly closes the gap by lunging at the man—shoulder first—with the force of a freight train. Seyren's clothing was composed of certain materials making it both deceptively resistant and incredibly heavy. Seyren normally used the force to help himself move around to maintain the ruse of being lithe and quick. Seeing as the young man's acceleration was sudden and rapid, it'd be difficult to dodge. Should it connect, the agent would likely find more than a few broken bones if not violently torn off limbs as a result. Should the flying ram not connect, Seyren will clumsily attempt to roll past the agent, out of the range of their generators and reignite his saber.

Fenric

2014-10-29, 11:41 AM

[DART HQ - Attack of the Sith]

(( Heh, heh, heh. ))

It's never a good thing when the narrator chuckles... Seyren plows into the active PIE field like a linebacker, and the device does its very best to factor out his physics defying clothing - but it can't.

The stolen design that DART uses is flawed. Geneva and Nick were warned about what happens if the reality loopback circuit is overloaded, but the sith weren't in the Temple of Inari that day for some reason.

What happens is this:

It explodes with a particularly orangy-pink sound, and a flash the color of E-flat-minor. Small carp suddenly rain from the sky and a nearby bush gains sentience and begins quoting MacBeth in James Earl Jones' voice. The Nexus is rather fritzed in a 6-foot radius sphere, and the wild surge that is flung out causes a chain reaction to the other five agents: causing their units to explode in turn and leaving a nifty line of chaos and nonsense.

The agent that Seyren collides with has turned into jello. Lime jello, to be specific, and Seyren most likely sinks right in. Hopefully he remembers how to defeat the Jello jelly, but that copy of Dungeon was rather a long time ago, so he might suffocate instead. All the grass in the area has turned into slivers of green mylar, the concrete is butter toffee, and two of the dart pistols are engaged in activities that seem designed to result in another dart pistol. Random patches of air have become plasma, near absolutely zero, toxic, pure oxygen, or some unpleasant combination of those.

One agent is now twenty feet tall, neon yellow, and a woman. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your point of view) her clothing did not accompany her on the transformation. One is stone dead (literally), one is a pixie, one has turned into a Pegasus pony and is already taking off, and the last has turned into Samuel L Jackson.... or is that Mace Windu? Guess we'll find out soon.

Recaiden

2014-10-29, 04:17 PM

Hattish Thing

2014-10-29, 04:26 PM

[Walkview Apartments - #572]

Someone comes knocking on the door.
A scarred young woman in light armor, colored in forest-camo, with hair in shocking red dreadlocks. Numerous rings on her left hand, none of her right, and a sword sheathed on her back.
Flat, innocent face dotted with freckles.
Tote bag in hand.

The door will be left unattended for a minute or two before a woman comes to answer the door. There's a chain keeping the door locked, and she just peeks through a small crack, speaking to the other woman. She's a bit older than the one at the door, some wrinkle lines showing at her face. A little bit of grey hair can be noticed, but she seems a tad younger than most to retain that faded color. Must be stress. Her eyes are blue and shine in the dim light of the apartment through the doorway. Bethany looks down to notice the sheathed blade and frowns a bit. "Erm, hello?"

Recaiden

2014-10-29, 07:07 PM

Hattish Thing

2014-10-29, 07:15 PM

[Walkview Apartments - #572]

"Hello! Bethany, right? I'm Alex, Herald of the End of Days. But I'm not here to preach today! It's about your...husband, is he? Might I come in?"
She smiles brightly through the crack in the door.
"If not, I can just leave this here for you to look over at your leisure."

Beth will frown, before nodding a little bit and undoing the chain. She'll look both ways, seeming to be a tad paranoid, before welcoming Alex inside. Beth will move to the center of the place and sit in a chair arranged in the living room. There's some toys on the carpet, left behind by two children who seem to be missing at the moment. A door to the left is closed, the right leading to the kitchen and bathroom area. The place is quite small. "Cai? Where's he been? You... I, thank you, Alex. I haven't seen him in a few days.... He told me he was working overtime and staying at some apartment. Is... Did something happen? Are you with Remnant?" She's speaking quietly, so the aforementioned children are most likely in bed within that closed room.

Meanwhile, one of the thugs under Marciano's command has noticed someone unusual walk into the home of the person they were to keep watch over. Hmm.

Murkus

2014-10-29, 07:38 PM

[Dragon Inn]

"Obriane says I'm spirity or something." Kitty says, though she sounds terribly unconcerned. She flumps onto Obriane and smooches her around the chin a bit. Far too cuddly for being in the middle of a public inn! She's totally oblivious to what the other two are talking about, far too distracted by Obriane.

[Dragon Inn]

"Kitty would never ever do anything evil." Obriane insists as she caresses Kitty's hair and tails while seemingly being lost in her eyes. "She's my little foxy fox spirit." I'm pretty sure you said that already Obriane. The changeling then giggles loudly and looks away from the Kitsune for a moment. "But I could do whatever you want if you think it's important, Sticky. A ruined shop sounds awful!"

[Dragon Inn]

Tanya shrugs and says, "I have no idea at this point. Should I go get Zareen? She'd want to be there."

"Then you'll need to come with me, Obriane. I-if that's quite alright. Your, um, fox spirit can come along," Sticks says, hating that they'll probably have to bring Kitty. She seemed like a very nice young, er, drunk, but having a spirit with them would only make the night more dangerous. And him, only more uncomfortable. He feels like he could withdraw inside his cloak like a ridiculous turtle and never come out right about now.

The tall man glances at Kanya. "Zareen? Of Malechenar? If you think you can retrieve her quickly. I don't wish to waste any more of these two young ladies' time than we have to. I think further inquiry, beyond a little show-and-tell, will have to wait until they're... until they're sober."

[The Toy Tinker]

Jim will arrive at his usual time on a clear Tuesday 'morning', though Westside's blanket of perpetual night remains to contest that fact. He'll be able to see something's wrong right away, walking down the street. The Tinker is on his right, nestled between it's damp, quiet neighbors in a slightly poorer part of the city.

It's right shop window - the one with the word Tinker on it - has been broken inward. Huge shards of what was thick industrial glass lay strewn into the shop in a glittering cone, intermingled with the crushed remains of what Sticks had on display the day before. His best toys. Beyond, two of his shelves have fallen over, one atop another, their contents scattered everywhere. About two thirds of the shop's floor is so strewn with toys and gizmos that it'd be impossible to walk without crushing one. It seems someone already did so to a great many. Their orange lifeblood - a stuff Sticks claims better conducts the Soul's energy - drips and runs everywhere, refusing to dry or congeal.

On the left, part of the simple white plaster wall is dented inward, cracked, as though something heavy was hurled against it. Beyond that, not too much has changed - it seems the force of the impact(s?) knocked down still more of what Sticks had dangling from the ceiling or the walls.

It's really quite a mess.

And there, behind the counter in his favorite chair, is the one called Sticks. He's asleep, it seems, head falling toward his shoulder, mouth hung open stupidly. A bit of drool runs at the corner of his mouth.

The tall man is without a shirt. The sound of pumps - very slight, very quiet - can be heard when he breathes, and there's a pair of stitch-edged holes in his chest where machinery seems to shift with each slumbering exhalation. Otherwise he's... as one would expect, desperately thin, narrow shoulders, blue rune-etched skin stretched raggedly over bones and steel.

He snores amidst the wreckage, then falls quiet.

Recaiden

2014-10-29, 08:15 PM

Hattish Thing

2014-10-29, 08:30 PM

[Walkview Apartments - #572]

Alex comes inside, keeping wary.
"I'm afraid he hasn't been entirely truthful with you. He may have been working overtime, but it's as an enforcer for the crime lord Marciano. He was recently involved in burning down a temple Inside, and I hope for his sake he's on the run."

Bethany just sort of stares, having been about to make her way to the kitchen to fetch something to drink for the woman. Now though, she just didn't seem to have the strength to stand, let alone walk. Her face goes pale, and she seems shocked. "Wait... what? No, no that's impossible. Crime... He wouldn't do something like that. He's a safety inspector, and he's out of town. It's... You can't be serious. How did you know this?" She's getting more and more upset as she thinks about it, glaring at Alex, the bearer of bad news.

Deathkeeper

2014-10-29, 08:44 PM

The Toy Tinker

Jim takes a look from across the street and sighs. "Crap."
He jogs over, unlocking the door even though he could just step through the window, and steps lightly on his probably-too-small-to-support-his-weight hooves without crushing anything, although he can't avoid getting them wet if he's avoiding them. Barnabas, who had been sitting on his shoulder, begins picking up smaller things and placing them back on shelves.
The faun takes another few light steps over to Sticks, giving him a pat on the cheek and snapping his fingers in front of his face a few times.
"Sticks? Sticks, wake up! You okay, Boss?" he says, currently just hoping he slept through the whole thing and not that he got knocked out.

Gullara

2014-10-29, 08:50 PM

[Dragon Inn]

"Kitty would never ever do anything evil." Obriane insists as she caresses Kitty's hair and tails while seemingly being lost in her eyes. "She's my little foxy fox spirit." I'm pretty sure you said that already Obriane. The changeling then giggles loudly and looks away from the Kitsune for a moment. "But I could do whatever you want if you think it's important, Sticky. A ruined shop sounds awful!"

[Dragon Inn]

Tanya shrugs and says, "I have no idea at this point. Should I go get Zareen? She'd want to be there."

"Then you'll need to come with me, Obriane. I-if that's quite alright. Your, um, fox spirit can come along," Sticks says, hating that they'll probably have to bring Kitty. She seemed like a very nice young, er, drunk, but having a spirit with them would only make the night more dangerous. And him, only more uncomfortable. He feels like he could withdraw inside his cloak like a ridiculous turtle and never come out right about now.

The tall man glances at Kanya. "Zareen? Of Malechenar? If you think you can retrieve her quickly. I don't wish to waste any more of these two young ladies' time than we have to. I think further inquiry, beyond a little show-and-tell, will have to wait until they're... until they're sober."

[Dragon Inn]

"Huh? Where are we going?" Kitty starts to stand, even trying to help Kitty up. Never mind how unstable she's been. "I thought we were going to bed now, but I guess we can go see stuff." She giggles again for some reason.

Shadowcaller

2014-10-29, 09:49 PM

[Dragon Inn]

As Kitty attempts to get up, the small group will feel a sudden chill as frost quickly starts to form on the windows. While it wasn't noticeable before Stick's can see that the air outside is like a thick fog of spirit matter, Then a stone flies right through the window, aimed at Kitty's head. Wherever it actually hits or not, all the lights inside the inn suddenly go out as the fog only Stick's can see rushes inside.

Then all hell breaks lose.
Chairs, plates, pillows, portraits and the rest of the inns furniture are being thrown around violently with terrifying force, most of them aimed at the Kitsune but not with particularly good aim, most of them just end up crashing into the floor with a deafening sound of wood breaking.
The murlock innkeeper ducks for cover as his inn is being violently trashed by an raging invisible force.

Ionbound

2014-10-29, 09:58 PM

[Dragon Inn]

Kanya stands as the junks begins flying. She races around as fast as she can, trying to touch as many pieces of flying garbage as she can, draining all of the heat and momentum. She then unleashes a series of fireblasts at anything easily disintegratable, trying to turn as much into harmless ash as she can.

Recaiden

2014-10-29, 10:56 PM

Hattish Thing

2014-10-29, 11:33 PM

[Walkview Apartments - #572]

"Take a look for yourself."
Alex upends the totebag, spilling out pictures, prints of divined and foreseen crimes.
"It can be hard to accept, but I mean, one kinda has to."
"I know all this, because I work with him."

And with that, she goes even whiter, all semblance of healthy color gone from her face. She's obviously incredibly stressed now, the shock evident on her face. Most of the images show Caius with the helmet on, but a few show the suit as damaged by battle, the helmet torn away. Beth breathes in deeply, unsure of what to do. This was... not okay, he was killing. He had told her long ago that he'd changed since school, he wasn't a bad man. He promised her. With a bit of fear, she gazes towards Alex again. "Wait... Why, where did you get this... I need... Oh gods."

Recaiden

2014-10-29, 11:37 PM

Hattish Thing

2014-10-30, 12:11 AM

[Walkview Apartments - #572]

Alex shrugs.
"Several different scenes, as you can see."

She smiles softly and holds out a hand to Beth.
"I understand this must be quite a shock. If you need to be alone, I can go. If you need someone to talk to, I can listen. If you need to get away from here for a while, I can give you a quiet place."

Beth looks upon one of the pictures, a particularly gory one, and begins to break down into tears. She'll look up to Alex, her eyes teary. "I can't... Why would you do this, why would you show these to me!" She stands up, unsure of anything right now. She needed to get away, she needed to get her children out of the place, where he wouldn't find her. She'll shout now, her voice rising in hostility. "Get out! Get out of my house!" From there, she'll begin by locking the door, then hurriedly packing up everything.

---

She'll be gone soon, the news flying through Marciano's network to reach him in the hour.

Recaiden

2014-10-30, 12:17 AM

[Apartment]

Alex puts up her hands defensively,
"Alright, alright. I'm gone."
Takes up her bag and heads out the door.

Whistling a cheery tune as she goes.

[Beyond the Sea Tavern]

It's a while later that Alex swaggers in, tote bag now empty, save for a note, which she draws out and hands to the bartender.
"Think you could pass on a message for me? For one 'Grayle'. He'll want it. And while I'm wasting your time, a cider?"
She offers him a handful of bone coins, several more than the drink will just cost.

Hattish Thing

2014-10-30, 12:33 AM

[Beyond the Sea Tavern]

It's a while later that Alex swaggers in, tote bag now empty, save for a note, which she draws out and hands to the bartender.
"Think you could pass on a message for me? For one 'Grayle'. He'll want it. And while I'm wasting your time, a cider?"
She offers him a handful of bone coins, several more than the drink will just cost.

With a sigh of boredom, the bartender raises his eyebrows and looks around, some old timey song playing on the speakers. There's a lot of people here, looking to be quite tough. None appear to have weapons upon them, but all look upon Alex with a sort of suspicious indignation. Who was this person walking in like she owned the place? However, she won't be addressed to save for a few glares.

Caius himself is sitting on a stool across the table, his head down on the desk. He seems to be awake, but grieving over something. There's a bottle on the table by him, but it's still full. He hasn't been here very long. The bartender's wide girth makes it's way over to Caius, dropping the note down. Grayle will point his head up, not quite noticing Alex just yet, and angrily moves to grab the letter.

As he reads it, his face grows a bit red, not in a nervous way, but in an angry sort of way. As he reads it over, he squeezes his fist, the bottle cracking before bursting into pieces around him. He'll look forward, his eyes settling on Alex. He recognized her. Caius steps off the table, clutching the note in hand. "Who... Who sent this." It wasn't a question. It was a demand.

Murkus

2014-10-30, 12:52 AM

[The Toy Tinker]

Jim moves quickly enough through the wreckage, stepping around a scattering of what was, before last night, a small army of toy soldiers. An enormous dragon-doll lies on it's side, lifelike scales broken open at the joints to reveal it's copper wiring and fine silver bones. Silver. Why wouldn't someone have taken that? A few stray miniature arms and legs jut up out've the debris, twitching or grasping at the air.

Jim makes it to his boss. As he reaches out to try and help, a tiny hand snatches at the hem of his pant leg, not quite finding purchase. If he glances down, he'll see exactly one half of a disarmingly large metal soldier, the remains of his legs strewn behind him amidst an orange-flecked trail of clockwork innards. He was, it would seem, modeled after some sort've medieval infantryman, with a tall fluffy hat and a blocky looking longsword. Half of his cheery white face has been ripped off, the rubbery material giving way to a cheap iron surface and a beady orange eye that looks squarely up at Jim. He'd be nearly the size of a small child, were he still whole.

Jim's gaze downward may be carried from the evil little thing to the floor beyond. A few other toys are still upright and mobile, looking up at him with the same baleful gaze. A dog, a rabbit, a griffon. Underneath the fallen shelves, a great multitude of orange lights wink on, two by two, in a few cases eight, and they look.

They peer.

Blessedly, Sticks is not a particularly heavy sleeper. He jerks awake with a snort, eyes flapping open, and he blinks rapidly. "Jim?" He moans out, widening his eyes and stirring. "Jim? What is it boy?" Oh. He isn't quite fully awake. He narrows his eyes and glares around, finally focusing on the lad's face.

[Dragon Inn]

((Does Kanya have superhuman speed, so she can rush around to touch the flying stuff? I'm trying to envision this in my head and I can't find her sheet))

"I'm sorry to pull you out've..." The tall man starts to turn. "Out've..." What was that horrible chill? It made his joints ache. He only reacts in time to see the fog outside, and briefly realizes something's gone very wrong.

Let it never be said Sticks has poor reflexes. Fast enough to save Kitty from being struck by a stone, if she doesn't save herself? We'll see. He tries to shove the poor kitsune down with one of his great long arms, though it's done harshly and without much precision. The tall man reaches into his cloak with his other hand, time seeming to slow as he bends at the knees and his body begins to lean to the left.

Got to cast something. Repel evil. A barrier. No, not a barrier. He was terrible at spontaneous shields. A binding? An attack with his cloak? His mind works at machine-like speeds, but his body creaks and groans in what is only a poor attempt to follow up.

Despite these valiant thoughts, his face is a rictus of terror. Fear is certainly a good motivator.

Recaiden

2014-10-30, 01:24 AM

Hattish Thing

2014-10-30, 01:33 AM

[Beyond the Sea Tavern]

Alex swaggers over to the table, a smirk on her face.
"Hey bro. Caius, good to see ya buddy. Boss is ready to fly on his own wings, and I'm ready to bounce. I think you're going to be too, in just a little while."

She has a suspicion that she's not going to get the cider.

The bartender had delivered the note and was making his way to the cider when Alex speaks. Caius stands, looking to Alex in anger. "What have you done. What." He reads the note again before throwing it to the ground, hate in his eyes as he stares towards her. There's hatred first, burning hot. Then, as he slowly comes to grip with what must have happened, his face contorts into a visage of sadness and anger, the kind of face one who's absolutely desperate would make. Others inside the tavern are watching the conversation with distrust. "Answer me... Where are they? Bethany? What did you do, what did you ****ing do!" With a great shout in the end, he rushes towards Alex, attempting to grip whatever she's wearing and hoist her into the air, slamming her against one of the wooden pillars within the inn.

"WHERE ARE THEY."

Deathkeeper

2014-10-30, 01:34 AM

Recaiden

2014-10-30, 01:39 AM

[Beyond the Sea Tavern]

Alex smiles back at Caius, not giving a millimeter to the anger. Same smile, friendly, open. What is one man's mortal anger?
"I just told them a few things. You've been lying to her, you know; terrible business."
She shrugs.
"Gave her a few pictures, offered her some help, but she didn't want it, the poor little penguin. I couldn't say where she is now, if not at home."

Hattish Thing

2014-10-30, 01:55 AM

Alex smiles back at Caius, not giving a millimeter to the anger. Same smile, friendly, open. What is one man's mortal anger?
"I just told them a few things. You've been lying to her, you know; terrible business."
She shrugs.
"Gave her a few pictures, offered her some help, but she didn't want it, the poor little penguin. I couldn't say where she is now, if not at home."

His seething rage boils beneath his skin, and as Alex tells him more, the situation just seems to get worse. By now, several of the goons are reaching for guns in their coats, but most are unarmed. They knew Caius had something hidden in his past, but none of them knew exactly what the deal was behind the man. Now, it seemed he had a family he was hiding? Scandalous.

Caius speaks to her, his knuckles white from balling his fists. "You had no right, you have any idea what I've[B] done for them?" He'll bring his fist through the air, and as he does so, one of the chairs will come flying her way, aiming to hit her in the chest and knock the wind out of her all at once. Should it hit, he'll drop her to the floor.

"Why did you do this... I AM ALL THAT STOOD BETWEEN THEM AND DEATH." By now, some of the others in the room are backing off. Caius speaks to her now, his voice deathly quiet, having calmed himself a little.

"Why."

Recaiden

2014-10-30, 02:03 AM

Hattish Thing

2014-10-30, 02:09 AM

[Beyond the Sea Tavern]

Very, very, very quickly, the sword is unsheathed and swung to hack the chair in half. Which really shouldn't be as easy as she's making it look.
"Don't do anything you're going to regret, Caius buddy."

Alex gives him a wink and returns the blade to a Lady's Guard stance.
"I had the power of knowing, and that gives me the right. You were the one to get them into danger, to chain them. I expect they're gone and free now. Besides, she was holding you back."

Caius points his finger at her, pacing back and forth in a small way. "I didn't get them into danger, I put food in their mouths, I made sure they got what they needed! I did what a man is supposed to do for his family." He stares at her now, slowly levitating off the ground. "You did this, why could not understand. Why doesn't anyone understand!"[B] With a growl, he'll now attempt to flip a table, sending it her way. [B]"You ruined it."

"All I ever did was care for them!"

Recaiden

2014-10-30, 02:17 AM

Hattish Thing

2014-10-30, 02:29 AM

[Beyond the Sea Tavern]

"Lie, cheat, steal and murder, thinking it's helping them?"

Alex hops up into the air, flipping over the table.

"Really, chill. You were a terrible father and husband. They're better off without you, and you're better off not trying."

Her words bite like acid to him, destroying all the mental walls he'd placed, separating his work away from his family life. He'd compartmentalized everything, making sure none of the two aspects in his life would ever come close to contact. That way, at night, when he laid in bed staring at the ceiling, unable to sleep, he could try and convince himself that he was a good person. He'd always believed the lies, as long as he didn't think about them too long. Caius cared so much about his family, the only people he ever cared for. He'd find peace in the eyes of his son, he'd find acceptance in the embrace of his little girl, and love under the care of Bethany, his Bethany, the woman he'd loved for so long, faithfully.

Now she's gone. All of it, gone. Just like that. All the guilt overwhelms him now, and he sets a hand on the table, his fingers digging into the wood as he turns his back to Alex. After a second of shaking shoulders, he turns around, tears falling down his face, the anger still there. He screams to her now, his voice loud and shivery as he thinks upon what she said. "Better off without you." That hurt him, that was the last straw. He couldn't do it anymore, he couldn't hide all the guilt, all the terrible things he'd done. He couldn't separate it any more. Everything he'd ever done was for nothing, nothing!

He'll charge her way, this time with a bottle in hand, not using his powers. He smashes it on the counter and attempts to press it against her throat roughly. "I DID WHAT I HAD TO, GODDAMMIT!" From there, he'll attempt to slice at her throat.

"I'll kill you."

Recaiden

2014-10-30, 02:36 AM

Murkus

2014-10-30, 05:37 AM

The Toy Tinker

Yes. Jim's pant leg. The faun's pant leg. Pants are definitely something that Jim owns. Definitely. That's why he wears them in every scene, right?

Either way, Jim kicks the hand away from the soldier grasping at his furry goat leg and turns back to Sticks.
"Uuh, Sticks? Did you have a little revolution in here? I think some of the toys are a little pissed off, but judging from the way the window broke someone definitely broke in. Were you asleep through the whole thing?" he tries to ask gently.

Meanwhile, in some alternate Nexus-verse, an entirely human Jim with far more propriety gets his pants leg tugged.

But not this Jim! It's no wonder the soldier's little hand found no purchase. The soldier is insistent, but the kick knocks him backwards, leaving him on his back and momentarily unable to further molest the poor shopkeep. "Revolution? I, hah, impossible..." Sticks sits up, blinking again, breaking through the haze. "Oh, gods," He seems genuinely worried when he sees the toys assembled as they are. With a hasty wave of his hand, their eyes wink out, and a few make soft clinks as they fall back over.

"I wish I had been asleep. The shop..." It's all coming back to him now. Oh, gods, wake up already you damned fool. "There was a-a thing... gods, I've still got it downstairs, too..." The tall man leans forward and rubs his forehead, eyes shut, as though hurting.

Deathkeeper

2014-10-30, 10:00 AM

The Toy Tinker

Hey, Jim wears clothes, he just sticks to things of the kilt classification for his lower body. Though were he the kind of children's-story faun who could walk in public in only a shirt and still be considered PG, he might have considered it.

"A, uh, 'thing?' Sticks, what happened?" asks Jim, distinctly worried at this point. Clearly this was no mere robbery.

Hattish Thing

2014-10-30, 01:31 PM

[Beyond the Sea Tavern]

Alex watches, waiting for him to work through it on his own.
And then the charge comes. She was ready, and brings the sword down in a quick, precise strike aiming to cut along his arm and make him drop the bottle.
"Speaking of things you were going to regret."

If that doesn't work, she can always step back and aside.
"My blood will not wash away your failures. I'm your only remaining friend, Caius."

The cut is in fact placed, the blade finding it's mark with relative ease. Caius was not one for close combat, especially not in this state of rage. With a growl that sounded more bestial than humanoid, he'll wince back, gripping where the elementium-tipped blade ripped through his skintight suit. He'd need to get that repaired soon. He glares at the ground now, his back to her.

Finally, he speaks, raising his arms as he does so. "I don't need friends." And with that, his hatred so strong, his powers so volatile, he'll bring down the roof in it's entirety, wood and shrapnel bits instantly killing many of the patrons. As the rubble falls, he'll begin swirling it around, a storm of sharp edges and broken glass. Finally he turns to Alex, a veritable storm of broken bits around him, forming a spherical shield.

"I'll kill you."

Gullara

2014-10-30, 07:39 PM

[Dragon Inn]

Kitty is far to inebriated to react so quickly to the projectile thrown at her. Thankfully Sticks give her a push out of the way. A push that sends her sprawling onto the floor. She screams as the lights go out and she feels a chair smash itself into the floor right next to her head. She rolls to the side and stumbles up to one knee. Oh no.

"Obriane!" She raises her hand and it alights with white fire. Just in time for her to see and react to a flung plate. She raises an arm and grunts in pain as it ricochets off of her.

Recaiden

2014-10-30, 08:06 PM

The cut is in fact placed, the blade finding it's mark with relative ease. Caius was not one for close combat, especially not in this state of rage. With a growl that sounded more bestial than humanoid, he'll wince back, gripping where the elementium-tipped blade ripped through his skintight suit. He'd need to get that repaired soon. He glares at the ground now, his back to her.

Finally, he speaks, raising his arms as he does so. [B]"I don't need friends." And with that, his hatred so strong, his powers so volatile, he'll bring down the roof in it's entirety, wood and shrapnel bits instantly killing many of the patrons. As the rubble falls, he'll begin swirling it around, a storm of sharp edges and broken glass. Finally he turns to Alex, a veritable storm of broken bits around him, forming a spherical shield.

"I'll kill you."

"You don't have to need us for us to be there."
Alex is turning to leave, the bloodied sword once again raised into a guard, but otherwise she seems casual.

A voice sounds by his shoulder, Bethany's voice.
"Caius, how could you?"
Alex finds that the ventriloquism ring never ever gets old.

Shadowcaller

2014-10-30, 08:37 PM

[Dragon Inn]

As Kitty lit up the room she can see that unlike every other piece of furniture in the room, the coach Obriane is still sitting on with a horrified and surprised expression, is untouched. The rest kept being thrown at the Kitsune from every direction as by an angry tornado. Kanya's blasts causes a chair to burn up and a portrait of a murlock family to be smashed against the wall, but might also cause the building to catch fire if she isn't careful.
The loud crashes of furniture being destroyed is soon accompanied by a howling wind as the door is suddenly slammed open with a with such a force it nearly flu off it's hinges, yet there is nothing outside.

The wind however, blows right in their faces as the attack against Kitty continues, everything that isn't nailed down is being thrown at her. Even more stones outside the inn are coming through the windows. Seeing all this Obriane suddenly throws herself in the way of a flying chair coming the Kitsunes way. There is a sicking crash as the piece of furniture is slammed into her.

But with that, the attack just stops.

The moment Obriane is hit, everything simply drops to the floor. The spirit presence Stick's felt quickly retreating.

However if one should take the time to look at the walls, the floor or the ceiling, it seems whatever it was left a message. Or a lot of them.

DIE FOX WHORE
FILTHY WHORE
DIE
WHOREEEEE
BITCH IN HEAT
KILL YOU
DIE DIE DIE
FOX BITCH

These and other profanities have been carved into the walls by what looks like nails or claws.

Hattish Thing

2014-10-30, 08:48 PM

[Beyond the Sea Tavern]

"You don't have to need us for us to be there."
Alex is turning to leave, the bloodied sword once again raised into a guard, but otherwise she seems casual.

A voice sounds by his shoulder, Bethany's voice.
"Caius, how could you?"
Alex finds that the ventriloquism ring never ever gets old.

He turns around now, the shrapnel bits around him like a shield, expecting to see someone. Unfortunately, his hungry eyes are met with nothing but air and the sound of patrons screaming to leave the place. There's some gunfire in the background, but it's not close to the pair here. With a shout, he'll simply fall to his knees on the ground, gazing at the filthy floorboards. From there, he'll just start crying, breathing heavily as he just tries to put everything back into place, trying to control himself. The pieces around him fall to the ground with a clatter, and he doesn't bother rising again.

"No. No..."

Recaiden

2014-10-30, 10:00 PM

[Beyond the Sea Tavern]

Alex will leave him to work out his failures for himself. She refrains from any final jab as she walks away.

Devixer

2014-10-30, 10:10 PM

[Northside Museum]

There's a yell, lost beneath the piercing screech of the flashbang going off.

And then the case starts going up very fast, as the thief on the other side of the line goes tumbling down - his grip dislodged, trying to lift his hand to shield his eyes in the moment of panic. His weight is on the other side of the grapple now, and Cassidy would have to be quite fast to reach the jewels before they're lifted away. Not that it's much comfort to the Burglar as he goes tumbling down towards the edge of the roof and the long drop below.

[Northside Museum]

Gods be damned, what was going on up there now?!
Cybil really wished she could communicate like this but no such luck. The yell in her communicator told her something was wrong however so she had no other choice but to emerge and see what was going on. Whoever was running towards them was probably a security guard or something so they had to take them out but first she had to save the Burglar.
So Cybil emerges right behind the podium for the jewels in her worm-like vampire form to see what's going on.

Cybil will see a woman dressed in jeans and a trenchcoat dashing to where the Cat Burglar is falling to, much faster than any rent-a-cop would. She reaches inside her coat, pulling out a syringe. She's keeping her eyes on the Burglar for now, and she doesn't care about the jewels at all.

Ionbound

2014-10-31, 12:53 PM

[Dragon Inn]

Once the attack stops, Kanya looks at the walls in shock and says, "Well...That happened...Is everyone okay?"

Murkus

2014-11-03, 03:35 AM

[The Toy Tinker]

As for this universe, then, Jim probably got his kilt tugged on by the odd little soldier.

"It was a phantom nightmare, born from the soul of a... small dead boy. I find myself ill to imagine what foul mind spat it out, but someone made it, someone... took this child's soul and stitched it up in a maelstrom of hatred," Sticks explains things in the way he often does when he's emotional - with great drama and eloquence. He knows this craft. This is precisely, precisely the reason he does not teach. At least not any more. "And this... this thing attacked my home! It broke my things! I'll never be able to fix all this, Jim..." The tall man begins to remember why he practically passed out in his chair. He resettles as though a might weight had been laid around his neck, holding a hand to his forehead, stunned all over again. "I'm going to lose the shop..."

[Dragon Inn]

((Does Sticks see the spectral mist retreating, as the attack stops?))

Sticks whispers something under his breath - and in the impossibly long spear the tall man takes from his cloak, a powerful soul awakens. A Shard of archmage Caius Faustus roars to action, all his anger and psychological potential for destruction sealed inside a single dismembered portion of his spirit. With a mighty flourish, as though the tip of his weapon now weighed a great deal, Sticks whirls the spear and points menacingly with it's two pronged tip. Blue light leaps from the point there, threatening to blast apart any flying debris it strikes.

Unfortunately, the tall man has even less time than the others to try and fend off the attack. He only manages to destroy a couple of flying things before Obriane throws herself in front of Kitty. The young lady shouldn't have had to do that. Sticks should've been faster. He's got to find a way to attack the spirit, remove it from the Inn... but before he can, silence falls.

He looks in awe at the things torn on the walls. Rude things. Nightmarishly, murderously rude things. This was something a bit out've Sticks depth. He'd been an urban, normalized practitioner for far too long.

"Obriane!" He cries in his near-Latin accent, rushing to her side where she's... presumably fallen. If she hasn't gained her feet already and she looks well enough, he'll help her up, but otherwise... "Young lady, are you alright?!"

He takes careful note of just when the attack stopped, make no mistake about that. And an attack meant for just one person...

Deathkeeper

2014-11-03, 05:01 PM

The Toy Tinker

Jim shakes his head, kneeling down to the sitting Sticks' level.
"C'mon Sticks, cheer up. You remember the people I called to fix up the place last year? They can get a new window in before the end of the day. Give Barnabas and I five hours and we'll have the shelves cleaned up. Business has never been all that fast, Sticks. We can make due with the half of the inventory that's still good while we make repairs on the broken stuff. We'll be fine."

Gullara

2014-11-03, 06:28 PM

[Dragon Inn]

Kitty gets fairly battered, but Obriane stops the worst of the projectiles. "Obriane!" She echos Sticks and drops down next to her. "Are you okay? Please be okay." She babbles in her panic as she looks over Obriane. The profanities on the wall barely register at first, and she's sure she'd rather focus on making sure Obriane's okay rather than look at them too closely...

Shadowcaller

2014-11-04, 01:14 PM

[Dragon Inn]

((He can see it quickly retreating out the door a few moments after Obriane is hit.))

The changeling groans as she remains unmoving on the floor, her teeth clenched in pain and tears running down her face. "I might have broken something..." She manages to say, her hand moving weakly towards Kitty.
Then outside there is suddenly a loud moaning sound, it very distinctive at first but then quickly grows fainter until it disappears completely.

Ionbound

2014-11-04, 04:18 PM

[Dragon Inn]

Kanya frowns as she looks around at the moaning, but when it stops, she swallows, look helplessly at Obrianne and says, "I...I can't touch her. Um...Someone! Help! Please!"

Murkus

2014-11-05, 05:03 PM

[Dragon Inn]

Sticks glances up at Kanya as she cries out. What was... hm. She had the right idea, though he's not sure he understands the context of her words. The tall man whirls and looks for the murloc that was tending the inn before, if he hasn't been knocked unconscious or fled his hiding place. "You!" He'll shout at the amphibi-man. "Call an ambulance! Get a phone, for the gods' sakes!" If the murloc can't call one, maybe someone else here can.

The tall man gains his feet, leaving the tending of Obriane to Kitty for the moment. He hurries to the door, hand in his cloak again, spear forgotten behind him on the floor. From that huge piece of cloth he draws an insect-shaped object - one of his smallest contraptions. It was like making a watch, one of these tiny sentinels, painstakingly forged and wound to his liking. The soul of an insect - so delicate a thing it can scarcely be seen - was equally hard to extract, but he had it. And he'd thought to bring it for just this reason... if he saw some other murderous spirit tonight.

The long metal bug flaps it's four skinny wings and takes off, giving chase to the mist. It can see as Sticks does - tiny Sigils ensure that - but whether it can catch the stuff is another matter entirely.

[The Toy Tinker]

"Business has never been all that fast, Jim! That's just it!" Sticks echoes, looking at his apprentice as his brows furrow desperately. "I can't pay for any of this. I can't even afford that new window. No one wishes to buy anything of mine to begin with, and now... I was barely staying afloat as it stood, Jim. I may need... more money somehow. I may have to go adventuring," Sticks shudders at the thought. Gods forbid.

Deathkeeper

2014-11-05, 10:52 PM

Gullara

2014-11-06, 12:10 AM

[Dragon Inn]

Kitty touches Obriane's face. "It's going to be okay, Obriane. Just stay still. Where does it hurt?" She looks up and her eyes dart between the door and the windows. She can't help but see the writing on the wall. "What is that..."

Shadowcaller

2014-11-06, 12:47 PM

[Dragon Inn]

Obriane gestures vaguely towards the lower part of her back, or possibly her rear. "There... there I think." She manages to say, laying perfectly still for the moment.
Meanwhile the innkeeper is looking up from his counter. "Mrrragghhlhlhlglgh!" Whatever he just said, the murlock heads out from his hiding place with what appears to be a seashell in his hand and attempts to hand it to Kanya. He seems to want her to do something with it. "Murghahralaha!"

The seashell is in fact enchanted to work as a phone. You simply think of the person you like to call and if they have a telephone or something similar, it will call them.

Meanwhile Stick's little contraption is following the mist which is hastily retreating from the inn, as Stick's reacted pretty quickly the moaning is still audible, coming from a nearby alley. If it hurries it might still catch up with the spirit. Or anyone else who would attempt following it of course (or rather follow Stick's contraption as they can't see it).

[Northern Riverbed]

The construction of a gate has begun at the northern river entrance of the city. It will probably take months before it's completed however.

Ionbound

2014-11-06, 05:25 PM

[Dragon Inn]

Kanya blinks and stares at the Shell for a moment, before muttering, "Oh, of course," and taking it, frost immediately forming on it, and, if she accidentally brushes the murloc, instantly causing frostbite, as she thinks of Zareen and says, "Zareen! I need you at the Inn, as soon as you can come!"

Hopefully, the shell is cold resistant!

Recaiden

2014-11-06, 07:55 PM

[Floating Church]

This dark, curving building is not literally floating at all.
It is nine-sided, rising to a point at the center, from which ropes draped in brightly-colored prayer flags are hung.
Constructed out of tightly-fitting pieces of dark stone, with again, nine windows, one of which has a light shining from within.
It is not a huge building, but neither is it small; it surely contains a good number of rooms.

A small, neatly lettered sign by the revolving door proclaims the title and that "All are Welcome"

Deathkeeper

2014-11-06, 08:20 PM

Floating Church

A few hours after nightfall, a small figure comes to the temple. Around two feet tall, the little imp bears a pair of batlike wings and a coat of course brown hair, clawed hands and feet, stubby horns, and a thick tail with a spade at the end. A pair of spectacles sits on his canine nose, balanced despite having nothing to balance on, and it's otherwise dressed in black dress pants and a white button-down shirt, despite still having bare feet.
The imp checks a tiny pocketwatch at its side before knocking on the door to announce its presence, then heading inside.

Recaiden

2014-11-06, 08:32 PM

[Floating Church]

"Welcome!"
A relatively young man (human, tanned skin, muscular, thin brown hair with a perpetually surprised face) in a fastidiously white cassock and a black sash opens the door (not that it was locked), already looking down for the short guest.
"You're here about the work, yes?"

While it's true this is not a Holy Church of a Good-aligned Power that might forbid imps entering or set them aflame, there is some energy pervading the place. A sense of peace and possibility for any type of being. The interior is lit with candles and a single lamp on the windowsill, and here is just a welcoming table and a foyer that branches off into and around the sanctuary.

Deathkeeper

2014-11-06, 08:38 PM

Floating Church

Tep looks up at the human, quite used to them by now, not that one in his position can ever really afford to be ill at ease around humans.
"Uh, yeah, I am." says the imp, stuffing his hands into his pockets, due to a distinct lack of knowledge on what to do with them at the moment.

Recaiden

2014-11-06, 08:47 PM

[Floating Church - Job Interview]

"Tell me a bit about your past work, qualifications, why you want the job, all that."
"Ah, but first, this way."
There's a table and chairs in this little room off the second left hallway.
"Fell free to have a seat, maybe on the stools there if the height is an issue."

Deathkeeper

2014-11-06, 08:59 PM

Floating Church- Job Interview

The imp makes it up to the chairs easily with a pump of his wings.
"You can call me Tep. I've been doing an archdemon's book-keeping for over six centuries. I have been summoned by four humans and done similar, if brief work for them, and am currently a young mage's familiar during the day when he needs my assistance with things. I was looking for a job because I don't actually sleep and I need something to do with my time when my master is asleep and I'm not."

Recaiden

2014-11-06, 09:18 PM

[Floating Church - Job Interview]

"I see. Why do you think finding another job is the best use of your night-time?"
He sounds amused.
"We could use someone with a bit more organizational experience keeping track of things though."

Deathkeeper

2014-11-06, 09:27 PM

[Floating Church- Job Interview

Tep shrugs. "It probably isn't, but I need things to do to keep my mind occupied. I like organizing things. So it's just what I want to be doing, really." he states matter-of-factly.

Recaiden

2014-11-06, 09:50 PM

[Floating Church - Job Interview]

"Alright. Sounds fine; what were your expectations, then?"
He looks down at Tep suspiciously.

Deathkeeper

2014-11-06, 10:02 PM

Floating Church Job Interview

Tep returns the look blankly.
"The Wall asked about a messenger and a pen, so I assumed it would be mostly doing such services. Given that that was my only information given on what was being inquired about, I didn't really have much to go off of in terms of making expectations."

Recaiden

2014-11-06, 10:51 PM

[Floating Church - Job Interview]

"I don't think you're exactly what we're looking for."
Did Tep just fail some sort of test? That's not very nice of this guy.
"I don't suppose the archdemon or your former summoners would be able to provide a reference for you?"

Deathkeeper

2014-11-06, 11:10 PM

Floating Church- Job Interview

Tep smiles a bit.
"Well, that's okay. I really wasn't sure what you wanted, so it's understandable that I didn't fit the bill. No one likes hiring demons anyway.
Uh, the archdemon, by his nature, hates everyone, so no, he wouldn't. Pretty sure they already blended Rask into a demon by now, he was a nasty one. Actually, Sir Lengrad would probably put in a nice word for me, but he's a few worlds apart. You could ask my master's master. He's a pretty potent wizard over in Inside. I organized his library for him in exchange for giving me a place to stay. Well, he gave that to me for free but I was insistent. "

Recaiden

2014-11-06, 11:38 PM

[Floating Church - Job Interview]

The smile is, technically, returned.
"Well alright. We'll check in with him, if you could give me some name or contact information for him, and assuming that all checks out, you'd have the job. Keeping track of the records here and running errands when the normal messengers are busy."
He nods slowly.
"Nights are the busiest times, you know."

Deathkeeper

2014-11-06, 11:49 PM

Floating Temple- Job interview

Tep isn't sure how that last statement meshes with him not being what they're looking for, but he's going to go with it.
"He's very secretive, actually. I'll see if I can't have him contact you. I don't want to give away his address if he doesn't want me to, you see.
If you don't mind, I couldn't find much information on you when I looked. What kind of services do you provide that makes you so busy at night?"

Recaiden

2014-11-07, 03:30 PM

[Floating Temple - Job interview]

"That would do, then."
He smiles at the imp.
"We provide communication with the dead, to and from, and there are simply more deaths at night, not to mention how so few can make themselves felt in daylight. Harder to reach."
"So there are records of that, and of many other things besides."

Deathkeeper

2014-11-07, 03:54 PM

Floating Temple- Job Interview

Tep nods.
"So you need folks to record the messages and manage the archives of them, along with getting the messages to their proper recipients. I get that.
Well, I should go talk to Elio. Thanks very much."
Tep says, leaning forward to shake the man's hand.

Recaiden

2014-11-07, 05:37 PM

[Floating Temple - Job interview]

The man nods back.
"Just so."
Hand shook, and he rises up to show the imp out.

Eliseo. A name after all.

Deathkeeper

2014-11-08, 01:55 AM

Floating Temple- Job Interview

((that's Elio, by the way. Eliseo is a Ghar character.))

Tep should be shown out without any trouble, flapping away.

A day or so later, The Wizard Elio's reference letter should arrive to the temple, giving a positive if not glowing review.

Recaiden

2014-11-08, 02:53 PM

[Floating Temple - Job Interview]

Letter arrived, read over.
Notice posted that Tep can start working <n nights from now>

The day shift guy will have to show him around; here are the papers, here are the seance rooms, here is the pile of outgoing messages, here are writing materials, etc.

Murkus

2014-11-08, 06:44 PM

The Toy Tinker

Jim blinks. Oh.
"Is that the issue, Sticks? My dad can give you a loan to at least get the window in and the functions restored. I don't know about adventuring, but that would buy you some time, wouldn't it?" he asks pleasantly.
It's unlikely Jim has actually mentioned how much money his family has, even though that his father owns a business has likely come up at least once in the last year. Though that doesn't mean Sticks actually remembers.

The Tinker of toys glances up at his apprentice and narrows his eyes a little. It has come up to be sure, but Sticks is forgetful, and he was never privy to just what sort of money Jim's family possesses.

"Why ever would your father do that, Jim?" Sticks asks, blinking a couple of times as his eyes resettle on the lad's face.

[Dragon Inn]

Kitty touches Obriane's face. "It's going to be okay, Obriane. Just stay still. Where does it hurt?" She looks up and her eyes dart between the door and the windows. She can't help but see the writing on the wall. "What is that..."

[Dragon Inn]

Obriane gestures vaguely towards the lower part of her back, or possibly her rear. "There... there I think." She manages to say, laying perfectly still for the moment.
Meanwhile the innkeeper is looking up from his counter. "Mrrragghhlhlhlglgh!" Whatever he just said, the murlock heads out from his hiding place with what appears to be a seashell in his hand and attempts to hand it to Kanya. He seems to want her to do something with it. "Murghahralaha!"

The seashell is in fact enchanted to work as a phone. You simply think of the person you like to call and if they have a telephone or something similar, it will call them.

Meanwhile Stick's little contraption is following the mist which is hastily retreating from the inn, as Stick's reacted pretty quickly the moaning is still audible, coming from a nearby alley. If it hurries it might still catch up with the spirit. Or anyone else who would attempt following it of course (or rather follow Stick's contraption as they can't see it).

[Northern Riverbed]

The construction of a gate has begun at the northern river entrance of the city. It will probably take months before it's completed however.

[Dragon Inn]

Kanya blinks and stares at the Shell for a moment, before muttering, "Oh, of course," and taking it, frost immediately forming on it, and, if she accidentally brushes the murloc, instantly causing frostbite, as she thinks of Zareen and says, "Zareen! I need you at the Inn, as soon as you can come!"

Hopefully, the shell is cold resistant!

The little bug can hustle. Somewhere approaching thirty miles an hour, but likely no faster. It buzzes along after the mist for as long as it can.

"Gods damn it, I said an ambulance or a doctor's wagon, not the fish woman!" Sticks snaps, his cloak whirling as he turns.

Deathkeeper

2014-11-08, 07:35 PM

The Toy Tinker

Jim blinks as if the question is incredibly strange.
"Because his son told him that a good friend was in a spot of trouble. Would he need a better reason than that?" he asks, ears drooping a bit and peaking an eyebrow.

Gullara

2014-11-09, 04:24 PM

[Dragon Inn]

"Just lay still, Obriane. Help will be here soon." Kitty stands and looks out a broken window. "I'll be right back." The kitsune takes off, running right out the door of the inn and into the night. She raises a white flame above her head. She looks for their attacker, whatever it is.

Shadowcaller

2014-11-09, 05:16 PM

[Dragon Inn]

Obriane can't but nod at Kitty as she disappears out the door, just turning to look after her. Meanwhile it will actually take a few seconds before Zareen replies. "Who calls- Kanya? How- nevermind, what do you need me for? What has happened?" Her voice comes off as rather stressed.

Outside Kitty can hear the moaning in the distance and possibly see how Stick's little contraption is following the sound of it. If the two follow each other they will eventually see the fog retreating into an dark alleyway where the moaning changes into mere sobbing. Suddenly sounding far less incoperal. The nearby streets are eerily empty even if there really should be people walking around, even this time of the day.

ThirdEmperor

2014-11-10, 05:09 PM

Cybil will see a woman dressed in jeans and a trenchcoat dashing to where the Cat Burglar is falling to, much faster than any rent-a-cop would. She reaches inside her coat, pulling out a syringe. She's keeping her eyes on the Burglar for now, and she doesn't care about the jewels at all.

She'll just be in time to see the Burglar land then, a quick blur past one of the windows and then an ugly sounding smack of flesh against concrete, loud enough to hear even inside the museum. The jewelery case comes tumbling off the roof a moment later, to follow him down, down, down.

That's gotta hurt.

Ionbound

2014-11-10, 10:16 PM

[Dragon Inn]

Kanya swallows and says, "It's...A bit tricky to explain. Short version is that I found someone who fit what we're looking for and then this weird thing happened...Look, I need help. I don't really know what's going on anymore."

She then nods to Sticks and says, in an annoyed voice, "Gimme a minute," before visualizing the Riverside equivalent of 9-1-1, and says, "Hello? I need help. I'm at the Dragon Inn, and there's someone here that's been badly hurt. I think her ribs are broken and more could be wrong."

Shadowcaller

2014-11-10, 10:40 PM

[Northside Museum]

There's a yell, lost beneath the piercing screech of the flashbang going off.

And then the case starts going up very fast, as the thief on the other side of the line goes tumbling down - his grip dislodged, trying to lift his hand to shield his eyes in the moment of panic. His weight is on the other side of the grapple now, and Cassidy would have to be quite fast to reach the jewels before they're lifted away. Not that it's much comfort to the Burglar as he goes tumbling down towards the edge of the roof and the long drop below.

Cybil will see a woman dressed in jeans and a trenchcoat dashing to where the Cat Burglar is falling to, much faster than any rent-a-cop would. She reaches inside her coat, pulling out a syringe. She's keeping her eyes on the Burglar for now, and she doesn't care about the jewels at all.

[Northside Museum]

Welp! Now she needed to save him!
Diving into the earth again, closing the hole she just made, she quickly "swims" through the ground underneath them towards the burglar, hopefully able to pull him underneath the earth before that woman can reach him.

Murkus

2014-11-11, 12:54 PM

[Dragon Inn]

"Young lady... Miss Kitty? Wait!" Sticks shoots Kanya an apologetic glance before he takes off out the door after Obriane's kitsune friend. "Young lady, the spirit here wanted you! Please be careful!" He pleads at her back.

Sticks does not, unfortunately, give chase. He thinks it might be best if someone stays with Obriane who isn't a heat devouring vampire or an incomprehensible fishman. Still, he takes occasional glances with his Sight through the eyes of his little contraption, and it continues on it's original orders - the tiny bug flies into the alley so it can have a look around. It's buzzing and miniscule glow is conspicuous enough that Kitty can probably notice it's not a normal insect.

The tall man, meanwhile, shakes his head and returns to Obriane's side, dropping down to his knees. If there's any arm pillows on the couch where they were sitting the tall man will take one and try to slide it under Obriane's head. At least he can make her a little more comfortable.

"Perhaps I should have taken those mending classes at University after all," Sticks says to the wounded woman. He smiles a little bit. "Does it hurt terribly, young lady?"

[The Toy Tinker]

"In my experience, most sane fathers would, but that's beside the point. I can't put your father out like that, Jim. the cost of these repairs is going to be significant," The tall man lies back in his chair a little and looks at the dusty ceiling. "Besides..." A stubborn note of wizardly pride creeps into his voice. "I don't make a habit of accepting charity, young man."

Gullara

2014-11-11, 03:47 PM

[Dragon Inn]

Kitty follows after the fog, casting a flame out before her. Her eyes dart warily from side to side as she approaches the sound of crying. A second flame materializes around her clenched fist and she presses forward.

Deathkeeper

2014-11-11, 05:05 PM

The Toy Tinker

Jim shakes his head.
"Well, you should at least help let me help with the window if you cant afford that. Without that we'll just get robbed again. And if it comes to adventuring well, I've never done it and would probably be pretty bad at it, but I'll help how I can."

ThirdEmperor

2014-11-11, 05:10 PM

[The Toy Tinker]

The little bell on the door rings, if there is one. A tall gentleman with gray hair and a hawkish nose brushes through, walking stick tucked under his arm, smiling an amiable smile. He wears a fine black suit, and under that a red vest shot with golden flowers, expensive shoes squeaking on the floor as he turns to look around at the little shop.

And Sticks will probably notice that there's something terribly wrong with the man.

To those with magical sense, he exudes, well, wrongness. An icky crawling sense of doubt. The urge to run away when he turns to the counter, and smiles wider. "Awfully nice day, isn't it?" To those with the sight to see it, the gentleman is wreathed in magic, alive and crawling over his skin. The old sort of magic, the kind that's wild and willfully dangerous.

Shadowcaller

2014-11-11, 07:41 PM

[Dragon Inn]

Obriane looks up at Sticks, feeling awfully sober at the moment the old mage helps her head up. Then she nods again at Sticks question, "Y-yeah. It's a bit better now though." She replies, trying not to squirm in pain, every time she moved her back hurt. "You should help Kitty instead, she might be in d-danger."

Meanwhile in the seashell, Zareen seems to be able to hear Stick's and Obrianes voices. "Okay, but I can't promise I will be there fast Kanya." Zareen was notoriously slow on land. If she was going to say anything else, the fire vampire will never know as her voice fades out and is replaced by a male operator.
"We'll send a unit there as soon as we can, please stand by. Meanwhile, is there any more information you can give me? What happened?"

[Alleyway]

As Kitty and the contraption moves into the alley they can see that there is no lighting here, so Kitty's flames are the only thing which lit their way. The sobbing grows louder and eventually they can see that it's a dead end, a woman sitting pressed against the wall. Her face hidden behind her knees in a strangely unnatural angle as she sobs. Not even looking at the furious looking Kitsune approaching.

It isn't just a woman. There are several others, both men women in ages 1 to 80 and even some non-gendered entities, all stitched together into one "person". Together they take up nearly the entire end of they alley, all locked in unnatural positions as parts of their souls seem to have been removed to better fit into this chimera and then glued together using a single spirit which surrounds these bodies like a gigantic white bubble.

Ionbound

2014-11-11, 09:19 PM

[Dragon Inn]

Kanya nods, some confidence restores knowing Zareen is on her way, and she says to the EMS person, "Yeah, there was a weird...Thing that happened. All the furniture and stuff started flying around and my friend took a chair to the chest to stop it from hitting someone else."

UncleWolf

2014-11-12, 04:11 PM

The Lotus Gardens

When Cessie arrives with Jezebel, she'll see that much has changed since she was last here. The architecture and much of the attire the people wore(or didn't wear) was the same, but the air was devoid of the sense of defilement that had been there before. Instead it seemed light and pure despite the powerful floral and spice scents that suffuse it all. Soft music plays everywhere she goes and there are smiles all around. The biggest change though is laughter. Children's laughter. Before, despite supposedly being safe and open to everyone, there was hardly a child to be seen, but here in the streets there were boys and girls racing around and playing, racing through the feet of merchants and couples all over the place, paying no heed to possible dangers as there doesn't seem to be any here.

She'll see that the guards still wear Masks at their belts or on their faces, but instead of the otherworldly eeriness they once had, they seem warm and friendly, even the ones with obvious mutations.

Finally, when they reach the park, Cessie will see that unlike last year, the trees are actually following the seasons and most have lost their leaves, but they also bear plenty of fruit between them. Jezebel herself even seems quite a bit happier than before, giving waves to some of the people that wave to her, but it seems she's a common enough fixture in the place that many ignore the goddess that runs the Gardens. When she reaches a pear tree, Jezebel will remove a couple and give Cessie a smile, offering one to her. "Well? What do you think?"

Overall, while the place mostly appears the same, the feel of it is different, and that's what is important.

Shadowcaller

2014-11-12, 05:53 PM

The Lotus Gardens

"It's certainly different." Cessie observes as she looks around, it looked similar but it was the feeling. Something on a very subtle level that gave the entire place anther dimension. "I'm not sure what you did, but it feels like a completely different place. It was beautiful before but now it feels more... open. Freer somehow. The air feels easier to breath."

UncleWolf

2014-11-12, 08:39 PM

Lotus Gardens

"Restraint. That is what it lacked before. There's still sex and drugs and all sorts of vices being given into here, but it's all done in a way that isn't self-destructive." Jezebel explains as she sits down, her back against the tree. She even pats the ground next to her for Cessie to take a seat. "Even as a Daemon I tried to preach restraint, but it was only after I threw off the mantle that I was finally able to reach those I was speaking to." She admits with a sigh. "I'd been thinking of bringing my son here now. To escape the clutches of The Imperium. I don't even know what he looks like." After that, she falls silent for a bit, watching a pair of satyr pipe players wander closer as they play their merry tune, but it's obvious that she's simply not effected by the fey magic at the moment.

Murkus

2014-11-13, 12:19 AM

[Dragon Inn]

Sticks grimaces worriedly. "I believe..." He looks up and into the middle distance a moment, blinking. His eyes are the insect's eyes, for that instant, and what he sees... "...I believe you may be right. Try not to move, Obriane. Lie still."

The tall man gains his feet, pulls his hood up over his head, and starts toward the open door. "Make sure someone stays with her," Sticks asks of Kanya, giving her a glance as he halts on the threshold. "I'm going after Kitty. I don't know what it is she's capable of, but... her intentions are black, I'm sure of it."

Unless there's anything else, Sticks takes off down the street as fast as his long legs will carry him. It will take him at least a round to reach the alley, at any rate. His insect hovers and flutters near Kitty's shoulder uselessly, watching.

[The Toy Tinker - Jim!]

Sticks looks at Jim a long moment and, with some hesitation, reaches out a hand to clench his shoulder. Despite the cold cage of Sticks' fingers, the gesture is surprisingly warm. The smile creasing his mouth still warmer. It's staggering how much better the tall man looks when he really smiles. "Your father must be so proud. It is a good man and a friend of men he's raised."

With a series of creaks, Sticks rises from his chair, trying not to draw attention to the fact that he is shirtless and he's just realized it. He looks all about himself. "It may not require adventuring, at any rate. We may simply have to... broaden our services." The tall man points. "And your lessons will have to be accelerated."

[The Toy Tinker - Wizards!]

It would be approaching sundown in any place that still saw the sun, when Sir Hex arrives. There is, in fact, a little bell, and it jangles upon his arrival. He'll be able to note the right front-window of the Tinker has just been replaced, leaving it with only 'The Toy' scrawled in red and trimmed with gold on the other window. Horrible name for a shop.

A mess has just recently been cleaned up. In fact, if Hex was watching, he'll note the shop was closed for much of the day to make way for that clean-up. Two of the simple little shop's three long shelves are empty, swept of toys, and slightly off-kilter. As though they'd been moved. Orange stains mar the floor. A person-sized dent has been punched into the plaster of the left wall, just missing one of the smaller side windows.

Otherwise, Hex will be able to note the usual - exceptionally lifelike contraptions in every direction. Bins of almost-authentic rabbits, their little eyes glowing a dull orange. Stranger things, like brass spiders. A rather spectacular Bird of Paradise dangling on razor-thin cables from the ceiling.

And behind the counter, a tall, blue skinned elfin creature, in a sleeveless brown tunic and pants. Work clothes. His ruddy red hair is combed back over his head, and he's currently leant forward over the counter. From the elbows down his arms are spindly steel things, ending in five sharp points, and currently those points work surgically on the innards of what looks like a complex clockwork doll.

White, lightbulb eyes flit up to meet the stranger, and are repulsed by the wave of Black Magic that washes over them. Old magic of a dark but different vein turns over in the wizard's gut. "Not especially,"He quavers, with an accent bordering on Latin.

"I'm afraid we're closed for repairs the rest of the day," says Sticks, mechanically, eyes never leaving the well-dressed gentleman. He forces a smile. "You're very welcome to come back tomorrow."

Deathkeeper

2014-11-13, 02:16 AM

The Toy Tinker

As usual, Jim's ears flush even if his face doesn't as obviously. He gives a bit of a goofy smile.
"He would be, but I can't visit at all without shedding on the couch and making the place smell like goat, and that's just so annoying it tarnishes my whole record." he jokes a bit weakly. He gets really embarrassed when people compliment him that way.
"And uh, what do you have in mind, and what does that have to do with my cantrips? Didn't you get that big job from Lord Rhye that we traveled for? Did he really not pay you for that?"

Gullara

2014-11-13, 07:57 PM

[Alleyway]

As Kitty and the contraption moves into the alley they can see that there is no lighting here, so Kitty's flames are the only thing which lit their way. The sobbing grows louder and eventually they can see that it's a dead end, a woman sitting pressed against the wall. Her face hidden behind her knees in a strangely unnatural angle as she sobs. Not even looking at the furious looking Kitsune approaching.

It isn't just a woman. There are several others, both men women in ages 1 to 80 and even some non-gendered entities, all stitched together into one "person". Together they take up nearly the entire end of they alley, all locked in unnatural positions as parts of their souls seem to have been removed to better fit into this chimera and then glued together using a single spirit which surrounds these bodies like a gigantic white bubble.

[Alleyway]

As Kitty approaches the sobbing woman, the spirits come under the light of her flame. In it's illumination, the come into sight, if only faintly. Kitty stops in her tracks when she sees their vague outlines across the alley. For the first time she realizes this might have been a bad idea. But she's not going to back down now. "You don't scare me, you... thing." She says with more confidence than she feels. "Burn." And she launches her spiritual flame into the center of the ghostly mass.

Shadowcaller

2014-11-13, 08:48 PM

[Alleyway]

The spirit fire causes the thing to literally go up in flames as the various souls that make up it's being scream out in pain. They panic, all trying to flee, to scatter in different directions, but their sewn together mass make such an escape impossible. But in the middle of the burning souls Kitty can see how the previously crying woman is standing up. She, like the others seem to be in pain the way she moves but and squirms, but then her eyes suddenly lit up into two cold tinders and the flames that consume her go out.

Now Kitty can see her white perfect skin, full red lips and somehow perfect long black hair which drapes around her as if there was no gravity. She would probably be considered extremely beautiful if not for those eyes burning with cold hatred as they bore into the kitsune. "YOU!" She cries out, somehow making herself heard over the anguished screams of the souls around her. "You don't even know..." Kitty can see that tears are still running down her face, turning to small ice crystals before they break against the ground. "You stole him from me you BITCH! HE'S ALL I AM! WHAT WILL I DO NOW?!" Her whole body is shaking and the temperature within the alley steadily seem to drop. "You made me hurt him!" This time she moves to attack, dashing towards Kitty with her hand raised, her nails suddenly turning into claws, ready to tear the Kitsune's throat out.

Sticks may arrive at the scene any time his player wants.

[Dragon Inn]

"I understand miss. This isn't the first time it happens this week. Just stay calm and someone will take care of your friend soon, we'll send the police too."

Meanwhile Obriane is just trying to lay still on the floor, feeling completely useless. Why had just happened? One minute Kitty and she had been having fun and then her whole world had been turned upside down. Was it a spirit out for revenge against her? Was this all because of her somehow? She looks up at Kanya but wasn't sure what to say. She barely knew this strange fiery woman. Could she really trust her? "Are... are they on their way?" She asks weakly.

The Lotus Gardens

Cessie holds the apple Jezebel offered to her as she takes a seat next to the former daemon. She wasn't too comfortable simply sitting on the ground so a small stone appears which she can sit on. "A son? I must admit that I'm only vaguely able to recall you telling me this Jezebel. I honestly-" She suddenly feels interrupted by the music that starts playing. She isn't sure why however, the music was nice and not particularly loud so she wasn't sure why it had made her pause. There was something about it however, something she hadn't felt in a while. It was a far from uncomfortable feeling that made her shiver as goosebumps appeared all over her skin.
It was like falling down into a big comfortable warm bed after being out in the cold for a while with a warm blanket suddenly warped around you, making you forget all the troubles of the outside world for a while.

Jezebel might note a subtle change in Cessie's appearance as she grows slightly leaner and her hair shorter, also shifting color from raven black to stark red. Her figure becoming more lithe as some of the weight she put on during the pregnancy just seem to melt away. "Damn..." The sorceress whispers. but can't help to smile slightly at the feeling. It was a rather awkward moment but she could never really hate it. Normally she would have panicked over suddenly changing in public, but now she kept her cool. "Sorry, I have a condition, fey blood." She attempts to explain to Jezebel. "Didn't mean to interrupt you." Jezebel was talking about something close to her after all!

Ionbound

2014-11-13, 09:55 PM

[Dragon Inn]

Kanya nods and says, in a voice pained from a knowledge of first aid and of what would happen to Obrianne if she tried to apply it, "Yeah, help is on it's way. Just...Just stay with me. You're going to be alright."

Morty

2014-11-14, 11:54 AM

[Westside and Northside]

Today, MERC has begun fulfilling the obligation of their new security contract. Four companies of mercenaries have been licensed, sworn in and educated in the laws and regulations of the two districts. They have been authorized to keep the order and protect the peace of the parts of the city ruled over by Malechenar.

The first group, Wazlido's Wingmen, is composed of Trolls (http://www.wowwiki.com/Troll_%28playable%29), mounted on giant bats. They patrol the two thirds of the city from the air, responding quickly in case of trouble.

Then comes the Doom Brigade, a rag-tag band of engineers of all stripes, gathered and sworn in by Krayger, the minotaur MERC member. They come in all shapes, races and walks of life, and have all sorts of specializations. But what they do have in common is the skill in quickly putting together field machinery.

The third crew hired by MERC is composed of Skaven, the sneaky, clandestine rat-men. A gathering of Clan Eshin outcastes and escaped clan-less rats, the Chipped Tooth Crew isn't seen much on the streets. But when they're needed, they tend to appear as if they've always been there.

Finally, there come the Howling Commandos. A pack of gnolls that make up for their profound lack of subtlety, tactics and savour-vivre with brute strength, ferocity and unrelenting tenacity for hunting. They're the strong arm of the new security detail, falling onto criminals and saboteurs in a pack to simply beat them down until they go along peacefully.

OoC Notes:

Any player with a MERC member can control those. The member in question need not be present, but they can be. If you need details about them, feel free to make something up.
Feel free to come up with your own groups as well.

UncleWolf

2014-11-14, 07:10 PM

Lotus Gardens

Jezebel watches the changes, carefully keeping her expression neutral as she looks Cessie over. "You...well, you've definitely changed." She says as she reaches under her cloak to pull out a small hand mirror, offering it to her. "But you look quite nice, so I wouldn't worry." She adds, trying to reassure the mage before giving a small smile. "And you didn't interrupt me, you only interrupted yourself. You were in the middle of saying something." She points out, and while she tries to keep looking at only Cessie's face, she fails every once in a while as she looks the woman over, taking notice of the changes and maybe appreciating them slightly too much. Still, Jezebel's trying at least. That counts for something, right?

Shadowcaller

2014-11-14, 07:37 PM

The Lotus Gardens

"Oh, I'm not worried Jezebel, the state is quite harmless. The closest comparison I can think of would be intoxication, thought the effects are far from well-documented. Each time it has been a light-headed sensation of sort where the worlds troubles seems more distant and you don't have to worry so much. Quite refreshing in a few ways, but socially awkward in others." She says with a laugh. She then looks into the mirror Jezebel showed her and then down at her body. "Interesting! The changes are different now than before. I'm leaner, more lithe and I can actually see my toes." This makes her laugh again. "But I... seems to have forgotten what I was going to say. You were talking about your children, correct?" She seems completely obviously to Jezebel's looks at her. She usually was rather ignorant about homosexual subtext in general. :smalltongue:

Murkus

2014-11-14, 07:38 PM

[The Toy Tinker]

"Well I can't claim I'll complain about a musk, Jim. If the place smells like a petting zoo we're bound to attract curious children, aren't we?" Sticks jokes smartly. He always appreciates a humble fellow, and he fully expected that from Jim. Still, it's important Jim knows just how much people appreciate him.

A slight note of embarrassment creeps into Sticks' voice. "I may not have accepted... explicitly monetary gain for that as-yet incomplete project." Realizing what he's doing, the tall man clarifies bluntly, "I haven't got any money from Ryhe yet, but that's not his fault. Merely... books. Old tomes. Something I'd lost..."

"That, however, is not important. I mention your training because it can be used for a variety of purposes. I mean, have you ever considered showman as a practical profession?" Sticks looks at Jim and grins innocently.

[Alleyway]

As Sticks runs, he begins to detach his left hand. It creaks and groans displeasure as he spins it free with an oily squeak, leaving him temporarily dismembered. He slows a little as the hand he hasn't disembodied reaches into his cloak, searching... Searching for... Ah!

What looks like a dull, green-brown wooden blasting rod appears in his fingers. It's to the end of this he attaches his left hand, the foul Molkav artifact beginning to glow an evil violet hue. It isn't truly attached - it floats, immovable, above the empty tip of the blasting rod, where a charge or focus would normally be situated to direct energy.

This is no ordinary blasting rod - it is Vargain's Fabulous Focus Manipulator, one of many similarly terrible titles Sticks worked on while he was still called by that name. And while he remembers quite well what it does, he isn't quite sure how the Molkav Claw will react to it's unique stimuli...

In any case, Sticks thumbs the topmost Sigil at the tip of the Manipulator, the sign indicating Maximum Focus. His Molkav hand writhes and spreads it's fingers violently, violet glow turning a much hotter color, approaching pink or white. Lords, he hoped this wouldn't backfire...

The tall man appears at the end of the alley, having found his way by memory of what his little bug saw. He sees as Kitty does - and sees the one that isn't burning lunge. "Kitty!" He cries, hefting the Manipulator to aim down the alley but not activating it yet. "Get down! Duck!"

Deathkeeper

2014-11-14, 07:46 PM

The Toy Tinker

Jim blinks. He wants him to...what?
"You...want me to put on a show to help business? I really don't have any experience there. I mean, I still get embarrassed when I play for Syela, and that's just one person. 'Course, that's not normal people, I guess?" he says tentatively.

Gullara

2014-11-14, 10:20 PM

[Alleyway]

The spirit fire causes the thing to literally go up in flames as the various souls that make up it's being scream out in pain. They panic, all trying to flee, to scatter in different directions, but their sewn together mass make such an escape impossible. But in the middle of the burning souls Kitty can see how the previously crying woman is standing up. She, like the others seem to be in pain the way she moves but and squirms, but then her eyes suddenly lit up into two cold tinders and the flames that consume her go out.

Now Kitty can see her white perfect skin, full red lips and somehow perfect long black hair which drapes around her as if there was no gravity. She would probably be considered extremely beautiful if not for those eyes burning with cold hatred as they bore into the kitsune. "YOU!" She cries out, somehow making herself heard over the anguished screams of the souls around her. "You don't even know..." Kitty can see that tears are still running down her face, turning to small ice crystals before they break against the ground. "You stole him from me you BITCH! HE'S ALL I AM! WHAT WILL I DO NOW?!" Her whole body is shaking and the temperature within the alley steadily seem to drop. "You made me hurt him!" This time she moves to attack, dashing towards Kitty with her hand raised, her nails suddenly turning into claws, ready to tear the Kitsune's throat out.

Sticks may arrive at the scene any time his player wants.

[Alleyway]

As Sticks runs, he begins to detach his left hand. It creaks and groans displeasure as he spins it free with an oily squeak, leaving him temporarily dismembered. He slows a little as the hand he hasn't disembodied reaches into his cloak, searching... Searching for... Ah!

What looks like a dull, green-brown wooden blasting rod appears in his fingers. It's to the end of this he attaches his left hand, the foul Molkav artifact beginning to glow an evil violet hue. It isn't truly attached - it floats, immovable, above the empty tip of the blasting rod, where a charge or focus would normally be situated to direct energy.

This is no ordinary blasting rod - it is Vargain's Fabulous Focus Manipulator, one of many similarly terrible titles Sticks worked on while he was still called by that name. And while he remembers quite well what it does, he isn't quite sure how the Molkav Claw will react to it's unique stimuli...

In any case, Sticks thumbs the topmost Sigil at the tip of the Manipulator, the sign indicating Maximum Focus. His Molkav hand writhes and spreads it's fingers violently, violet glow turning a much hotter color, approaching pink or white. Lords, he hoped this wouldn't backfire...

The tall man appears at the end of the alley, having found his way by memory of what his little bug saw. He sees as Kitty does - and sees the one that isn't burning lunge. "Kitty!" He cries, hefting the Manipulator to aim down the alley but not activating it yet. "Get down! Duck!"
[Alleyway]

"What?" Kitty says out of pure confusion, her alcohol addled brain not putting the pieces together. "You're delu-" And then the spirit rushes her. She stumbles backward, and Sticks' voice registers enough that she throws herself to the ground. Not quite quick enough, however. The ghost's claws rake across her chest. She cries out and reflexively whips a small flame in the spirit's face as she tumbles to the ground.

Shadowcaller

2014-11-14, 11:09 PM

[Alleyway]

The woman cries out as she's hit by the flame right in the eyes and stumbles backwards in pain. "YOU FILTHY WHORE!" It's not like she can move too far from the alley anyway as she too is attached to the mass of souls who are still burning even if the flames slowly starts to go out.

[Dragon Inn]

"T-thanks." Obriane stammers, she was curious though and felt strangely clear headed now. "But do you know what's going on? With the spirits and all? You were investigating something..." She couldn't recall what Kanya had said though. Something about spirits?

Devixer

2014-11-15, 12:55 AM

Northside Museum

She'll just be in time to see the Burglar land then, a quick blur past one of the windows and then an ugly sounding smack of flesh against concrete, loud enough to hear even inside the museum. The jewelery case comes tumbling off the roof a moment later, to follow him down, down, down.

That's gotta hurt.

[Northside Museum]

Welp! Now she needed to save him!
Diving into the earth again, closing the hole she just made, she quickly "swims" through the ground underneath them towards the burglar, hopefully able to pull him underneath the earth before that woman can reach him.

Cassidy is able to reach the burglar at about the same time that the other woman reaches him. Cassidy tries to grab the burglar around his neck to stick the syringe in him.

I don't think she's qualified to be administering shots.

Ionbound

2014-11-15, 11:39 AM

[Dragon Inn]

Kanya nods and says, "Yeah, I was looking into a weird chimera thing that attacked me. But...That really isn't important. What's important is you staying alive. We'll have time to talk about it once you're safe."

Morty

2014-11-15, 12:31 PM

[Dragon Inn]

After a while, the called help does arrive. Looks like it's part of Malechenar's nearly-acquired mercenary security force. The patrol consists of a large, female gnoll with a long red mane, wearing metal armour with spiked gauntlets and no visible weapons. Behind her are two smaller, male gnolls, armed in wicked-looking flails.

"We're from the Howling Commandos, authorized to uphold the law in this district," she says, waving her MERC license with a Malechenar stamp on it. "What's the commotion here?"

Shadowcaller

2014-11-15, 04:07 PM

[Dragon Inn]

"I don't think- am I dying?" Obriane suddenly sounds panicked.
Thankfully, this is the time when the mercenaries and ambulance personnel arrive so Kanya won't have to deal with that. The will enter the inn and start helping Obriane up on a stretcher.
Meanwhile the inn's owner (http://www.hiveworkshop.com/forums/resource_images/1/sc2res_61/SS_Murloc.png) attempts to explain to the mercenaries what happened. "Murggglah! Grralahah! Muurglagla!"

Ionbound

2014-11-15, 05:02 PM

[Dragon Inn]

Kanya shakes her head and says, "I don't know. But I hope you'll be fine."

She then turns, allowing the medics to help Obrianne, and says to the gnolls, "Hello. We were attacked by some kind of spirit. Obrianne was injured, and two other chased after it outside."

Morty

2014-11-15, 06:31 PM

[Dragon Inn]

"Spirits? We'll see what we can do," the gnoll woman says, glancing at the Murlock innkeeper. "Uh, can't understand you, sir, sorry 'bout that. Rrugtek, stay here. We'll go track down those who left." Provided no one interrupts, one of the male gnolls remains to stand guard, while the woman and the other man head out, trying to follow the scent of anyone who left the inn recently.

UncleWolf

2014-11-15, 08:10 PM

Lotus Gardens

Jezebel can't help but smile a bit. "Don't worry about being intoxicated. Not here. It's a fairly common sight here." She admits before closing her eyes and resting her head on the trunk of the tree. "I was talking about bringing my son here, and while I didn't say such, yes, I do have multiple children at this point. I haven't had to carry any myself though and while it's selfish, I'm thankful for such. If there's one thing I'm still glad about from my time serving that Dark God, it's that I gained the knowledge of how to make my physical sex rather...fluid." She explains.

Shadowcaller

2014-11-15, 08:23 PM

Lotus Gardens

"Oh, but I will always worry. So don't you worry me being worried now Jezebel. The will just make me worried and then we'll never be able to stop!" Cessie jokes before she listens in curiously to Jezebel's story. "Dark gods let you have children without pregnancy? If you only had tried to recruit me with that..." She gives Jezebel an amused glance. "All hail Slaanesh and all. But really, you can change gender? What do you look as a man?"

Aric Kale

2014-11-15, 09:56 PM

Wolves' Cave -Southside Siths

Okami Kei-Jin runs into the cave, his eyes filled with worry. He had just been consulting with some of the wild animals in the area, where the violent destruction of DART had not gone unnoticed.

He walks over to Atsuko's room, quickly packing her things into his hat.
Little One, we need to leave. Don't worry, we're going to Inside...it's saf-better...better.

The young man does his best to look calm and collected, but he's only the equivalent of 28...

Spook, Trace, and Flitter are all gathered at the cave entrance, waiting for their Alpha.

Recaiden

2014-11-15, 10:03 PM

[Wolves' Den]

Atsuko nods, but even so asks a question.
"Why?"
She's taken to asking for an explanation of basically everything that she hears.

The girl picks up her one possession, the bouncy ball, and heads to the edge of her tunnel, wings straining and just managing to take her off the ground for an instant.

Aric Kale

2014-11-15, 10:10 PM

Wolves' Den - Southside Sith

Okami pauses just long to smile at her mini-flight and answer with a simple Because a cave isn't good enough for you, Atsuko...

It's a lie, of course. There's nothing better than a cave for raising pups.

He picks up the little girl and heads to the cave. So far so good.

Recaiden

2014-11-15, 10:25 PM

[Wolves' Den]

"I like caves."
The girl pouts, and then is swept up and smiles.
"Ok."

Aric Kale

2014-11-15, 11:03 PM

Wolves' Den - Southside Sith

I do too...

The fivesome fade away into the dusk, moving with all the stealth they can afford.
The path is long and it's not like they have paved roads to follow.

This is Southside, after all.
Trace, I need you to scout ahead, make sure there's nothing blocking our path.

The wolf bounds forward, vanishing into the underbrush.

Recaiden

2014-11-16, 12:21 AM

[Wolves' Den]

"Scout? Where Trace go?"
The place is pretty open, after all.

Aric Kale

2014-11-16, 01:01 AM

The Pack - Leaving Southside

He's looking for a path...easier traveling.
He says, bouncing lightly with the girl in his arms.

Spook glances around nervously.

Murkus

2014-11-16, 03:43 AM

[The Toy Tinker]

"I didn't exactly mean a performance with your fiddle, though that is a thought..." The tall man puts a curled finger to his lips and studies Jim. Apparently appraising his qualities as a potential showman. "No, I meant a magic show! You know, basic flim-flammery! Prestidigitation!" The tall man holds out his hands magnificently. The ruin around them tempers the joy he derives from conversations with Jim, so he isn't quite smiling, but it's there in his eyes.

[Alleyway]

Sticks narrows his gaze at the mass of hateful things and takes careful aim. A spark of will, a breath of power. He screams a half-decent battle cry and hurls the power of the Molkav down the alleyway.

Blessedly, Kitty has removed herself from the line of fire, and thus won't be struck by the twelve foot high ethereal hand that Sticks sends hurtling down the ruddy passageway. White power burning with putrid violet energy, the huge bladed digits curl themselves into claws, followed after by a wriggling tail of purple fire. A shriek of creaking metal pierces the air as the terrifying fingertips descend, attempting to puncture and pierce the mass of spirits.

The huge outstretched hand exists in both the material and ethereal plane, thus making it able to touch physical objects or spectral ones simultaneously.

Shadowcaller

2014-11-16, 10:59 AM

[Alleyway]

The hand hits the mass, and the woman, head on and for a moment the screams of the souls turn into a chorus of pure anguish which can be heard all the way back to the inn before whatever tied all these souls together comes undone, the white sphere surrounding them shattering into dissolving shards of lust and obsession. And much like they blew off the lid of a machine, Sticks and Kitty get a chance to see it's inner workings just before it all breaks apart. The Kitsune probably won't understand it all, but there are memories and emotions that breaks off into fractions of images that play out in the air before them as the burning souls go to their final resting place.
But what they see isn't especially pleasant, just endless grotesque sex scenes that sometimes go into murder and even cannibalism, often with more than two persons involved. Perhaps they can recognize some of these people in the images as the souls that belonged to this strange being, with an clear need to satisfy someones endless need for pleasure.

The souls come apart one by one in a rapid succession until only the woman remains, her spirit body broken by more than just Sticks wand. She shivering remains are marked with what must be endless years of abuse. Yet her last act is reaching out her shaking hand to slowly caress and invisible cheek, her red lips moving but her final gentle words too quiet to hear before she fades away.

[Dragon Inn]

The gnolls can probably feel the scent of alcohol and fox of all things. Not sure if Sticks carry a special scent but Kittys should really be enough to go on as it's fairly strong.
The innkeeper seems increasingly frustrated but doesn't seem to be able to express more than mere gibberish to the mercenaries.
Then suddenly there is a loud glass-shattering shriek in the distance. Something big just happened.

Morty

2014-11-16, 02:34 PM

[Dragon Inn]

The gnolls keep on the trail, and quicken their pace to follow the scent. They'll probably reach the alleyway next post.

Gullara

2014-11-16, 05:36 PM

[Alleyway]

Kitty sits up, not fully comprehending what just happened. This is all a little much right now, to say the least. She groans and arduously pushes herself to her feet. A red stain spreads quickly down her front, but she doesn't quite seem to realize.

Deathkeeper

2014-11-16, 06:47 PM

The Toy Tinker

Jim tries to imagine that image, and finds it a bit too amusing to avoid chuckling a bit at it.
"Well, I hope that you have some tasteful ideas in mind for a costume, because I'm no good at all with fashion." he says, leaving the joke about his opinions in regards to pants unsaid.

Murkus

2014-11-16, 07:41 PM

[The Toy Tinker]

"I'm sure I have something ridiculous you can wear," Sticks says. This was just one idea, but it might be worth looking into if Jim's really willing to put on a show. "Magic can be quite a fun trade, when you get down to it. Does Miss Syela like magic, Jim?" The tall man raises his eyebrows, smiling a little.

[Alleyway]

Sticks is shocked. One good squeeze and the chimera comes apart, split into it's component fragments by the sundering power of the Molkav. He isn't sure if it's because the Claw is so strong or the stitches holding the spirits together were too weak, but the end result is the same. He tries not to watch as the collective memories of the tortured play out across the night sky.

The huge Claw recedes and shrinks back down into the actual artifact. The fingers of that metal horror close, sated, and clench into an impervious fist before falling still completely.

The tall man makes his way forward, the Manipulator dropping to his side, and he stares at the place where the spectral woman was. Wondering. Fearing. It's only a splash of red that draws his gaze. "Miss Kitty, you're bleeding." He would put more shock into his voice, but he believes he's quite out've juice for it now. "Here I... I might have something..." The tall man drops the useless Manipulator and reaches into his cloak with his good hand, eyes turning downward.

As for the Gnolls, Sticks smells distinctly of oil, grease, and scorched air. The sort of ozone smell violent evocation produces.

Deathkeeper

2014-11-16, 07:46 PM

The Toy Tinker

Jim gives a bit of a wistful look and a shrug.
"Well, I certainly hope so, since she's apprenticed to an alchemist. I haven't really asked her about the more esoteric kinds, though." he says. Indeed, it really hasn't come up much. Jim prefers to keep quiet about these sorts of things so he can surprise her later.

UncleWolf

2014-11-16, 09:36 PM

Lotus Gardens

Jezebel winces when Slaanesh's name is mentioned so casually, but her smile returns. "Sort of surprised you hadn't known that. The God is usually depicted as half male, half female and his Champions usually have aspects of both." She explains before standing up and stretching. "As for changing form completely, usually I don't go to such lengths unless it is a sticking point with my partner, but I don't mind showing you. I have many forms, but I suppose I could show my favorite."

Jezebel takes a moment to pull off her cloak, casting it into the wind where it vanishes. As it does so, her flesh ripples and her form begins to change. Her breasts shrink, muscles become toned, and skin darkens several shades. When she's done transforming, Cessie will see a male elf standing before her, only slightly taller than she is with wiry muscles and even longer hair reaching down to the middle of the back. The dress she'd be wearing shifted as well, turning into a pair of loose white pants. The man turns and smiles at Cessie as a final ripple goes through his flesh, causing black lines to appear on his chest, flowing until it makes the symbol of a lotus blossom above his heart. There's no chest hair at all on the form and as "Jezebel" gives a spin, Cessie will see a line of opalescent scales along the elf's spine, going into a thin long devilish tail that's even tipped in a small spade. "Well?"

Even the voice is changed, slightly more masculine but not overly so.

Shadowcaller

2014-11-16, 10:13 PM

Lotus Gardens

Cessie watches Jezebels transformation curiously, it was really weird seeing her change gender but once she was done it was hard to believe she was ever female. She now reminded her of Aegnor. "Amazing." The sorceress compliments. "I think you'll have to change out of it fast though before I'm caught staring too long." She says with a giggle. "Since that is... very attractive." In other words, drop-dead gorgeous.

UncleWolf

2014-11-16, 10:30 PM

Lotus Gardens

"That's alright. I never mind the stares. Besides, I people will generally concentrate on you I think." He says smoothly with a smile before giving a polite bow. Afterwards though, the smile is smaller, a faint look of worry on his face. "Do you want me to change back, Cessie?"

Shadowcaller

2014-11-16, 10:45 PM

Lotus Gardens

Cessie looks worried for a moment, had she somehow insulted her? "Oh no, I honestly don't mind that much, Jezebel. It was just a joke. Keep that form as long as you like." She smiles widely at Jezebel. Though it was somewhat... distracting, admittedly.

UncleWolf

2014-11-16, 10:58 PM

Lotus Gardens

"Whatever is comfortable for you, Cessie. Today is about getting you out and about." He says before closing his eyes to stretch a little more, working out the kinks in the new form. "So what would you like to do? We can keep walking if you want. Otherwise there's not much around here except some clubs, taverns, and a couple restaurants." Jezebel explains as he reaches into the air to pull out his cloak to wrap around his shoulders for warmth. Afterwards he gives Cessie an odd look before reaching into the air to pull out a similar cloak of deepest black. As it moves, she'll see that there are faint specks of starlight within. The light doesn't move, but no matter where the cloak it, it shows stars beyond normal vision, as if it were a window into deep space. Without a word Jezebel steps up to Cessie to throw it around her shoulders and fixing it in place with a simple silver brooch. "This first though. It'll get cold towards sunset."

Shadowcaller

2014-11-16, 11:40 PM

Lotus Gardens

Cessie blinks, too surprised to even move for a moment. "Oh... thank you, Jezebel." She replies as she pats the cloak that Jezebel put around her. She had been thinking about places to go to, but now her train of thought was gone as this suddenly felt a lot like a date to her. Was Jezebel trying to make her awkward? Probably!
"So is this suddenly a date?" She muses as she glances at the former daemon.

UncleWolf

2014-11-16, 11:52 PM

Lotus Gardens

Jezebel takes a step back and gives a sigh, reaching up with both hands to run his/her fingers through his/her hair. "In other circumstances, I'd very much enjoy saying yes, but now..." The 'elf' turns around, putting his back towards Cessie and just looks up at the sky for a bit. "It'd be taking advantage of you if this turned into an actual date, Cessie, and I admit on one hand I'd enjoy it very much, but on the other, I'd regret it very much. And I think you would to." Jezebel explains before turning back around, waiting for a response.

Shadowcaller

2014-11-17, 12:09 AM

Lotus Gardens

Cessie had expected perhaps a joke or some other clever response to that. But never that much honesty. She looks over Jezebel for a moment before she shakes her head and smiles. "Let's simply call it a night out then. Believe me, I don't think I woulf be ready to date you Jezebel, if I'd ever be. I imagine that would be something quite... special." She replies before turning to look up at the sky as well.

UncleWolf

2014-11-17, 10:23 AM

Lotus Gardens

Jezebel's form shimmers for a moment, as if the being was going to change shape again, but apparently he decides not to at the last second, instead looking up once more. "I haven't had cause to blush in years, Cessie. Thank you." The 'elf' says, drawing his cloak tighter. "Well, there's a music club around here that we can go to get a bite to eat as the band plays. They're non-magic as well." He offers, looking back at Cessie and giving a small smile. At the moment it was simply too tempting to take advantage of the situation where she was intoxicated so hopefully getting her out of the open would help undo that.

Temple of The Burning Light

Whenever Dipsnig or MERC's representative comes to pick up Krait, they'll see that a woman is waiting for them, Krait seated next to her. The woman is tall, a giant of a human at nearly seven feet tall but her powerful form is still graceful with smooth pale skin and silver hair that's tied into a braid that stretches down to her lower back. She wears a shimmering silver dress and several rings on her right hand. She'd be fairly pretty in an angular sort of way if it weren't for the horribly mangled left cheek she has, torn so bad that it reveals teeth beneath. Despite being in a temple where people who've done horrible things could be burned alive, she appears completely at peace, even smiling slightly with her eyes closed as she waits.

Shadowcaller

2014-11-17, 10:45 AM

Lotus Gardens

Cessie turns to look at Jezebel in surprise. She had blushed out of that? She looks closer at the former daemon as if hoping to detect a hint of that mythological blush color on her cheeks. Cessie didn't even think it possible to embarrass Jezebel! She was really full of surprises tonight.
"I'm not sure wherever I should question my own decency of be flattered." The sorceress replies with a laugh. "But more magical music wouldn't do anything Jezebel, I won't be able to trigger it again for another two days or so just bring it on. What kind of music do they play?" She seems all too willing to follow along.

UncleWolf

2014-11-17, 11:11 AM

Lotus Gardens

Cessie does find what she's looking for as the elf's cheeks are soft pink compared to the rest of his skin. He's silent for a few moments before giving a shudder and regaining his composure. "They play a mix. Soft jazz, some blues, swing, dance, rock, pop, whatever they feel like. They also serve pretty much any food you'd want. Custom orders from the kitchen."

Shadowcaller

2014-11-17, 11:27 AM

Lotus Gardens

"That sounds nice enough, I even start to get hungry." She replies while walking along. "I must say it feels so much easier to move now with that baby-weight off me. I wish losing weight was always this easy." She'd go back in a couple of hours, but she could enjoy it while it lasted.

UncleWolf

2014-11-17, 11:39 AM

Lotus Gardens

"I can make that permanent if you'd like." Jezebel says with a chuckle. "One of the purposes of this place is to change people to how they'd like to look after all. It's generally a slow process, but I have some ability to help with it." He explains as he walks, guiding Cessie towards a single story building with the name "The Music Stand".

Shadowcaller

2014-11-17, 11:46 AM

Lotus Gardens

The sorceress giggles. "Maybe, I'll consider it. Don't get your hopes up though, you know that I'm in bed with another god." Not sure Artaris would approve of this simile but Cessie found it extremely funny now for some reason.

Morty

2014-11-17, 11:56 AM

[Alleyway]

The gnolls come rushing into the alley.

"What happened here?" the female asks Sticks as she crouches next to the dead woman. Meanwhile, the male gnoll scans their surroundings, sniffing intently.

[Temple of The Burning Light]

Dipsnig comes riding there on Viima, bearing the requested metal in a bag of holding. He's alone. Despite the task he's here to accomplish, he looks strangely calm and composed.

UncleWolf

2014-11-17, 04:08 PM

Lotus Gardens

"I'll bet he wouldn't be as fun as me there." Jezebel teases with a grin. "And simply consider it a gift, not a blessing. I have plenty of worshipers, I don't need more." He explains as they get to the door to the restaurant. "What sort of music do you prefer?" He asks, hand on the door but not opening it yet. Knowing him, he's likely getting the band prepared for her, but it's a nice touch.

MagMart

Poor Riverside MagMart. Little does it know the potential ruin it will face. Famine, earthquake, disease? What possible disaster will plague it this time?

Apparently, it's a rather tall woman who goes by Frost who starts off by kicking the front door in with a grin. "Hello, bots. If you wouldn't mind departing, I think that would be a good idea. Take an extra long coffee break. I think you'll need it." She tells the MagBots staffing the place as a hover platform with several large crates on it floats in behind her.

Shadowcaller

2014-11-17, 04:51 PM

Lotus Gardens

Cessie simply laughs at that, so she doesn't actually answer that question. "Oh let them play whatever they want. I'm sure they have a much better selection than me." Hestopia had music, but not very advanced instruments so it would likely be hard for the group to copy whatever renaissance music the sorceress were used to. "Ask them play something that suits you."

[Temple of The Burning Light Light's Hearth]

There are no servants in sight, just priests of various ages, races and genders running around taking care of homeless. A female tauren in a black apron and a white robe underneath approaches the two newcomers. "Is there something I can help you with? I like to make sure I personally greet each newcomer and your faces aren't know here yet." She smiles gently.

[Alleyway]

There is a strange scent in the air, blood and ash mixed together that now fills the entire alleyway. There are no physical evidence of either ash or blood however.

UncleWolf

2014-11-17, 05:03 PM

Lotus Gardens]]

Jezebel gives a smile and opens the door, revealing a fairly filled restaurant with a large band in the background playing swing music on a stage near a dance floor that's in the middle of the restaurant. The goddess will lead Cessie over to a table inside, offering to take her cloak and even pull her chair out for her before taking a seat himself, watching the band with a small smile. They'll each get a few looks, but the other patrons will go back to their business. "There's no menus, so you'll have to think of what you'd like. They already know what I like, so take your time and think it over." He says, still smiling some and watching the couples dance on the floor. For all that Jezebel has been through and put others through, she honestly seems to be fairly happy now.

Shadowcaller

2014-11-17, 05:35 PM

Lotus Gardens

Cessie sits down, taking a look around. Wasn't exactly what she had grown up with, but people seemed happy. Reminded her a bit of Promises and Hope's wedding, though that had been wilder. Or at least that's how she remembered it. "I want to say 'surprise me', but somehow I don't think that would turn out well." Cessie says with a smile as she sits down with Jezebel. "What are you having? Since I was thinking just some simple meat pie. Lamb meat perhaps?"

UncleWolf

2014-11-17, 05:43 PM

Lotus Gardens

"Rice pudding with raisins and a bit of brown sugar and cinnamon." Jezebel says. "Surprisingly simple I'm guessing, but it's what I like." He admits before the smile fades and he takes a napkin to cough into it for a couple seconds. The cough fades quickly and he folds the napkin neatly on the table. It takes while for the god to get his smile back, but when he does he flashes it at Cessie. "Never doubt the power of comfort food."

Shadowcaller

2014-11-17, 05:50 PM

Lotus Gardens

Cessie raises her eyebrows. "Once a noble, always a noble, Jezebel?" She asks with an amused expression. "I can certainly relate, I had to take classes in mannerism and courtship."

UncleWolf

2014-11-17, 06:01 PM

Lotus Gardens

"Same. I took them all before I reached fifteen years." He admits as a waiter brings a couple glasses of ice water for the pair of them and heading off without bothering to take their orders. "Etiquette, dance, formal speech, swordsmanship, lore, and...well, training of a more intimate nature." He adds, frowning deeply in distaste before taking a sip of his water. "If it weren't for being forced to go on my family's tradition of leaving the House in order to find new contacts when I was seventeen and the events that transpired because of it, I'd have been carted off as a political marriage of no particular importance." He explains, looking into his glass as he swirls it around. "I wasn't even a particularly promising one as I was rather inept and dull. I suppose in some ways I'm lucky this happened to me."

Shadowcaller

2014-11-17, 07:31 PM

Lotus Gardens

Cessie frowns at well, she didn't remember those parts from her training. While her own life had mostly been governed by her family (until the point she was exiled at least) they hadn't forced her to do that sort of things (I mean, swordfighting? :smalltongue:). But even if she had considered her childhood (and most of her teenage years) a happy one, she saw some similarities in their backstories. Which was rather amazing considering that they must be from different world. The last thing really surprised her however, the words inept and dull wasn't exactly what she associated with Jezebel. "That sounds awful, Jezebel. Yet I have heard similar stories from my world so I have seen it happening all too many times. I'd never consider you 'inept and dull' though, rather the exact opposite of that."

UncleWolf

2014-11-17, 08:09 PM

Lotus Gardens

"My eldest sister needed only a few months to establish a lieutenant-ship in the Imperial Navy, the second found our lost genealogy papers stretching back to the founding of our planet in just a week, and the last...no idea what she did but she got three feuds taken care of and even put our House in position to become a Major House rather than a Minor one." He explains. "Me? It took me three weeks to get lost and start selling myself to avoid starvation. Inept is something of an understatement." Jezebel says with a slight smile, trying to show that the memories aren't so painful anymore. "As for dull, I had no goals or motivation and was entirely too plain in appearance to draw in any potential suitors."

When he finishes talking, the food is delivered with Jezzy getting a small dish of rice pudding and Cessie getting a miniature lamb meat pie and her own smaller side of the rice pudding, in case she wished to try some. "But that's entirely too dark for these circumstances. Surely your childhood was happier." After he asks that, the cough returns for a moment, but he already has a napkin ready to cover his mouth. "Pardon me." He apologizes, putting the used napkin aside. "Something is just bothering my throat is all."

Shadowcaller

2014-11-17, 08:43 PM

Lotus Gardens

Once Jezebel mentions "selling herself", Cessie no longer wished to discuss that subject. She simply guessed that her "god" had changed her appearance. "You could say that, I became an initiate to Artaris and remained one for a few years." She had technically not chosen this as she had been about eight when her family sent her there, but it had been pretty good in the temple. "Then once it was discovered I had the gift I was moved to the university where I stayed for a couple of years until I had to leave due unfortunate circumstances. I traveled the world for quite a while along with a few friends before I finally settled down in Hestopia again. I'm skipping over a lot of details here but you could say I was pretty adventurous in my youth even if I was forced to leave home at first."

UncleWolf

2014-11-17, 09:37 PM

Lotus Gardens

Jezebel gives a smile. "It sounds like it was a bunch of fun, and even I had some in my own travels. Remind me someday and I'll gladly show you the trophies." He says with a grin. "Skulls of alien beasts, xeno armor, and even a few tomes of lore I've still yet to translate. Then I showed up here and the rest, as they call it, is history." He adds before taking a bite of his food, sighing at the taste. Eventually the music picks up pace a little bit and he looks at the floor to see a few more couples head out to dance. For all that's happened, he looks quite content and entertained by it all.

Shadowcaller

2014-11-17, 10:05 PM

Lotus Gardens

"Not sure about "fun" in either of our cases, but we both survived our ordeals, made a couple of friends and grew as persons so at large I'd count that as a success." Cessie replies before she shifts her gaze to the dancers and starts eating.

UncleWolf

2014-11-17, 10:22 PM

Lotus Gardens

"We have." Jezebel agrees before turning to Cessie with a smile. "I'd ask you for a dance, but I think the rumor-mill is going to have enough of a field day with this as is, don't you?" He asks. "As fast as some rumors travel, you'll probably have calls waiting for you at home by the time you get back."

Shadowcaller

2014-11-17, 10:29 PM

Lotus Gardens

That makes Cessie laugh out loud. "Rumor mill? You really think people rumors will spread out from here?" Cessie honestly hadn't considered that for even a minute and it just feels silly that someone would report her and Jezebel hanging out for a while. She leans in a bit closer. "So what will they say about us, huh? That we secretly been lovers all this time? That I broke up with Harnel to just be with you?" She suggests, barely able to keep a straight face.

Gullara

2014-11-17, 10:51 PM

[Alleyway]

Sticks is shocked. One good squeeze and the chimera comes apart, split into it's component fragments by the sundering power of the Molkav. He isn't sure if it's because the Claw is so strong or the stitches holding the spirits together were too weak, but the end result is the same. He tries not to watch as the collective memories of the tortured play out across the night sky.

The huge Claw recedes and shrinks back down into the actual artifact. The fingers of that metal horror close, sated, and clench into an impervious fist before falling still completely.

The tall man makes his way forward, the Manipulator dropping to his side, and he stares at the place where the spectral woman was. Wondering. Fearing. It's only a splash of red that draws his gaze. "Miss Kitty, you're bleeding." He would put more shock into his voice, but he believes he's quite out've juice for it now. "Here I... I might have something..." The tall man drops the useless Manipulator and reaches into his cloak with his good hand, eyes turning downward.

As for the Gnolls, Sticks smells distinctly of oil, grease, and scorched air. The sort of ozone smell violent evocation produces.

[Alleyway]

The gnolls come rushing into the alley.

"What happened here?" the female asks Sticks as she crouches next to the dead woman. Meanwhile, the male gnoll scans their surroundings, sniffing intently.

[Alleyway]

Kitty looks down at the blood freely flowing down her chest. Faster than it should be. How much had she been drinking again? "Oh..." She sways precariously and latches on to Sticks' arm. "I think I need to lie down now." She starts to do just that, lie down right there in the street.

UncleWolf

2014-11-17, 11:00 PM

Lotus Gardens

"Or that I was Harnel the whole time or that we secretly got rid of him so we could share a life of forbidden love together." Jezebel says with a grin. "That or people will think I've brainwashed you. "

Shadowcaller

2014-11-18, 08:51 AM

Lotus Gardens

"Don't be ridiculous Jezebel, clearly I brainwashed you after I broke up with Harnel. But we must of course have a love child, but which one is carrying it? You never wanted to carry children and I think I've carried enough children already. Perhaps we're using Sakura as a surrogate mother." This was a concept she had only happened to come by in the books she had read. The idea of having another woman carry your child was odd but she had understood why some people choose to do it.

UncleWolf

2014-11-18, 09:18 AM

Lotus Gardens

Cessie chose the worst moment possible to make that joke as Jezebel was in the middle of taking a drink. Needless to say it is only by his quick hand and another napkin that she doesn't end up getting sprayed by water. The god laughs to the point where he's choking a bit and ends up coughing hard for several long moments, but at the end he's smiling and sets the cloth aside. "I'm pleasantly surprised, Cessie. I didn't figure you'd joke so much. We'll have to see in the morning though. Surely by then people will be talking." He says, a little paler than he was a moment ago. "And it reminds me that I need to check in on some people tomorrow. Surrogates." He points out with a nod before finishing off his meal and sliding the bowl forward a bit.

Shadowcaller

2014-11-18, 09:50 AM

Lotus Gardens

She laughs as well, bur probably not as hard; soon using her own napkin to hastily tidy up the places she can reach from her side of the table. "Hey, I actually have a sense of humor you know. This just isn't the kind of place I usually show it however." She felt kind of proud to actually have made Jezebel laugh that hard however. "Just don't tell Sakura I actually made that joke however, she might take it the wrong way." She continues with a giggle, not actually suspecting that the dryad would be offended or anything. It was just a silly joke and Sakura was one of the silliest persons she knew. "But I certainly hope that I'm not distracting you from important surrogate checking business here."

UncleWolf

2014-11-18, 10:03 AM

Lotus Gardens

"I'm thankful for the distraction, so don't worry about it." Jezebel says before standing and putting his chair back under the table. He takes a moment to pull his cloak back on before putting a small stack of gold coins on the table. Its far more than even ten of these meals was worth, but it's not like he couldn't afford it. "Are you ready to head out?" He asks, taking Cessie's new cloak and hold it ready for her.

Shadowcaller

2014-11-18, 10:25 AM

Lotus Gardens

"That I am." Cessie replies as she gets up, but still make sure to leave a less substantial tip on the table. She leaves more than she usually would however, not wanting to stand in Jezebel's shadow too much. She would just look poor!
The sorceress then accepts the cloak and heads out the door. "You're not really going to let me keep this thing though are you though? I'm hardly a charity case." She jokes with a amused look at Jezebel as she draws the cloak tighter around herself.

Lord Magtok

2014-11-18, 12:40 PM

Temple of the Burning Light

[Temple of The Burning Light Light's Hearth]

There are no servants in sight, just priests of various ages, races and genders running around taking care of homeless. A female tauren in a black apron and a white robe underneath approaches the two newcomers. "Is there something I can help you with? I like to make sure I personally greet each newcomer and your faces aren't know here yet." She smiles gently.

[Temple of The Burning Light]

Dipsnig comes riding there on Viima, bearing the requested metal in a bag of holding. He's alone. Despite the task he's here to accomplish, he looks strangely calm and composed.

Temple of The Burning Light

Whenever Dipsnig or MERC's representative comes to pick up Krait, they'll see that a woman is waiting for them, Krait seated next to her. The woman is tall, a giant of a human at nearly seven feet tall but her powerful form is still graceful with smooth pale skin and silver hair that's tied into a braid that stretches down to her lower back. She wears a shimmering silver dress and several rings on her right hand. She'd be fairly pretty in an angular sort of way if it weren't for the horribly mangled left cheek she has, torn so bad that it reveals teeth beneath. Despite being in a temple where people who've done horrible things could be burned alive, she appears completely at peace, even smiling slightly with her eyes closed as she waits.

"Nothing is needed, madam heifer. Carry on," Krait answers, in an attempt to politely dismiss the woman that will almost certainly fail terribly. Diplomacy is not the kobold's strong suit, I'd say. He doesn't say a word to Dipsnig upon the goblin's arrival, simply watching in silence, his signature mask hiding whatever thoughts might be swirling about in his head.

MagMart

Poor Riverside MagMart. Little does it know the potential ruin it will face. Famine, earthquake, disease? What possible disaster will plague it this time?

Apparently, it's a rather tall woman who goes by Frost who starts off by kicking the front door in with a grin. "Hello, bots. If you wouldn't mind departing, I think that would be a good idea. Take an extra long coffee break. I think you'll need it." She tells the MagBots staffing the place as a hover platform with several large crates on it floats in behind her.

The Magbots draw their time cards all at once, more than willing to go along with the woman's demands. It isn't a moment later before they stop, however, as a rather extraordinarily pale-looking MagClone raises a hand to order them to halt. This must be the local manager, then. It seems the midnight shifts haven't been kind to his complexion.

"To arms. Take her down, and check those crates."

Energy weapons set to stun are drawn as those time cards are put away. Looks like the coffee break will have to wait until later.

UncleWolf

2014-11-18, 06:41 PM

Temple of the Burning Light

"Please, excuse him." Frost says with a gentle smile as she stands, facing the priestess. "And I'm sorry that this is not the Temple's usual purpose, but you see, my companion here was captured on the field of battle and his employer has come to pay the ransom to get him back. He has not been ill treated and my boss figured it would be appropriate to handle the situation in a neutral place where there would be no favoritism or potential hostilities. I hope we can make up for this transgression by providing donations before we leave." She explains, giving a small bow. "I am called Frost. It is a pleasure to meet you."

MagMart

Frost gives a sigh and sets a hand on her hip, tilting it to one side. "Magtok, please don't do this. It'll be a lot less fun for everyone involved and I'd rather not risk damaging this dress. Do you know how hard it is to find something in my size?" She asks. "Besides, what other rooftop is going to be more appropriate than this one for a Hero vs Villain showdown? Surely someone as crafty as yourself has figured out a way to minimize loss of inventory here. And a way to sell tickets to such a show for an obscene profit."

Lotus Gardens

"I never said you were." Jezebel points out as he looks around a bit before starting to walk down the street, a goal obviously in mind. "And why not? It is a nice cloak and fits you rather well, doesn't it? Besides, it makes me feel better to give a gift like that. It means I've done something meaningful to someone today. You aren't the only one who needed a friend today, you know." He adds softly, smile gone and lips tight in thought.

Morty

2014-11-18, 06:50 PM

[Temple of the Burning Light]

"That's more or less accurate," Dipsnig says. "It's my hope that this place will help us transact this business smoothly and get it over with," he adds in an icy tone, looking impassively at Frost. She and her whip-master have another thing coming, but they don't know it yet.

Ionbound

2014-11-18, 07:39 PM

[Temple of the Burning Light-Later]

A young woman in grey robes, with brown hair and green eyes, wearing thick-rimmed glasses, approaches the temple, looking about curiously.

Murkus

2014-11-18, 08:23 PM

[Alleyway]

I don't believe there are remains of any dead woman by which to crouch. The alley is now empty but for Sticks and Kitty.

The tall man turns partway toward the mouth of the alley, eyes widening. "Who're you people?!" Kitty's words put Sticks' head on a swivel, and he moves only just in time to catch the faltering young lady. It's a bit more difficult with only one arm, but he tries at least to keep her on her feet. It helps she grabbed his arm right away, a fact that makes this only all the more uncomfortable for poor Sticks. "Kitty! You, one of you, help me! I've got only one hand!" He would point at the gnolls to emphasize his words, but that is also difficult with one hand!

[The Toy Tinker]

"Now's the chance to find out, lad," Sticks replies, keeping up his slight smile. He glances at the floor again, and at the toys that had been active not a few moments ago. "Though I suppose we've got a bit of work to do first..."

Shadowcaller

2014-11-18, 08:26 PM

Temple of the Burning Light

The tauren glares down at Krait, heifer? At least she was insulted by someone with an extended vocabulary, ususally they used "miss cow" or "Bovine". Her gaze doesn't linger far on him however as she looks over at Frost. "As neutral ground? Very well, we will ensure that it remains exactly that." She turns to Dipsnig who might note that the many flames burning within the temple seems strangely attracted to him and the kobolt. "That goes especially to you two. We won't tolerate any hostility in here. Is that CLEAR?"

Lotus Gardens

"It is very nice." Cessie agrees, smiling back. "But it still feels like I need to give you something in return. Why don't I come back here by say the end of the week with a gift of my own? All the time we met, you have always come to me after all. Unless you count the first time of course." She pauses. "But I must satisfy my curiosity here, what were you planning to do with me in there? I recall a man visiting my dreams."

[Temple of the Burning Light- Evening]

At evening Light's Hearth doesn't nearly have as many visitors, but it's especially beautiful at this time with it's many fires burning within the citadel and all along it's mighty walls, making it's surroundings bath in light. There is a large bird-creatures dressed up in a golden armor which reflects the torch-light sitting perched upon the walls. It simply watches her however, not saying a word.

Deathkeeper

2014-11-18, 08:28 PM

The Toy Tinker

Well, a few less than before, since Barnabas had been cleaning the entire conversation.
"Yeah, I suppose that we do." he says, and he finally relaxes enough to start cleaning up the place, though even with all the damage his usual smile never totally leaves his face.

Ionbound

2014-11-18, 08:36 PM

[Temple of the Burning Light- Evening]

The woman looks impassively at the giant bird, unimpressed. She simply wanders outside the temple, curious, though with enough observation, it becomes noticeable that every once in a while, she approaches the temple, then walks away again.

UncleWolf

2014-11-18, 08:57 PM

Lotus Gardens

Jezebel can't help but smile a bit. "I think I'd like that quite a bit actually. It'll be great to see a friend from time to time." He says, looking at her with the smile before turning and nodding towards a pastry shop up ahead. "That's where we're headed. Something you should try in there." He explains before taking a deep breath. "As for the hotel, it was a front but I was going to try and make it the start of a place like this. Unfortunately it was crude and unstable, hence the nightmares and such. It took me ages to learn how to refine the method of linking the two worlds, even through a minuscule doorway like I had here. Despite what happened, I'm thankful. It would have been a disaster had I been able to continue the work there. Likely devour the entire area in a warp storm."

Shadowcaller

2014-11-18, 09:27 PM

[Temple of the Burning Light- Evening]

Suddenly the bird opens it's beak and speaks. "This one sees the lady come and go but never stay. What does this lady desire if she cannot make up her mind?" It asks the woman as she's on her way back.

Lotus Gardens

"So things turned out positive after all. Sure didn't feel like that at the time, but yet here we are." Cessie replies as she follows along, not wanting to think too closely about warpstorms and madness right now. "But let's focus on more pleasant things, what do you want me to try?" She kinda wanted to ask why she needed a friend too. Or why she had turned to her of all people, but they were going to focus on pleasant things. At least for the moment.

Ionbound

2014-11-18, 09:30 PM

[Temple of the Burning Light- Evening]

The woman blinks, but says calmly, "Well, who's in charge here? I'd like to speak with them."

UncleWolf

2014-11-18, 09:31 PM

Lotus Gardens

"Give me just one moment." Jezebel says before darting into the shop. It takes just a minute before he returns, holding two small plates while offering one to Cessie. "Baklava. Honey soaked pastry layered with a nut mixture." He explains with a grin. As messy as it looks he was thoughtful enough to bring a fork. "My world had nothing like it and I've fallen in love with the stuff."

Shadowcaller

2014-11-18, 10:00 PM

Lotus Gardens

"Never seen it myself, sound good though." The sorceress remarks before she has a taste of it the pastry Jezebel brought her. She wasn't usually for this sort of stuff, but it couldn't hurt to try some of it. "What was that about friends though?" Cessie asks as she eats. She couldn't keep back the question forever!

[Temple of the Burning Light- Evening]

The bird squawks. "So this lady asks this one who leads? But yet there is none, so that is a very strange question indeed. Everyone lead themselves, acting by their inner voice. None should act by orders of others, unless it is to defend those who cannot defend themselves. So this one cannot answer the lady's question unless she is more specific. Who does this lady like to meet? Servants perhaps? Clergy? Warriors?"

Ionbound

2014-11-18, 10:11 PM

[Temple of the Burning Light- Evening]

The woman shrugs and replies, "Servants? Clergy? Warriors? Of who, if I may ask?"

UncleWolf

2014-11-18, 10:26 PM

Lotus Gardens

The Baklava is quite a treat, composed of dozens of less-than-paper-thin sheets of special dough that's been brushed with butter, layered with a sweet nut paste, and eventually coated in honey as it is baked. Biting through it takes a slight bit of effort and the resulting pastry is quite chewy but sticky and sweet in the best way. It's can't be healthy at all, but it's darn good to eat.

Jezebel takes a bite of his own piece, thinking as he chews it for a minute before replying. "I have lots of people around me here, but not a single peer or someone I could call a close friend." He says, giving a small sigh out of resignation rather than sadness. "Think about it for a moment. I'm a goddess to many of these people or at least recognized as far more powerful than they are. That creates a...distance between me and everyone else. I have students, worshipers, artists, servants and even people who beg to be my slaves. I have many lovers and children, and I act as a muse to more, providing inspiration and aide to those who wish to create. I could take you around here for a month to get a portrait, a picture, a song, or even a sculpture made of you by someone else every day and never run out. But for all I do Cessie, for everyone I know and help and listen to, not a single one of them considers me their peer. I am either loathed, feared or completely adored." He explains before looking up at Cessie.

"Except by someone like you. As far as I've seen, for all my power and aspirations, you couldn't care less. You treat me as a person, not a god, and just that alone makes me wish I could allow myself a moment to fall to my knees and thank you dearly." For as serious as he sounds, he doesn't do as he says and just smiles at her. "To top it off, everything here is new to you. There's nothing tedious or repetitive for you here while it feels like such for me from time to time. To see you smile as you watch things or explore here as you've done today...it reminds me of why I did this in the first place, so...thank you."

Lord Magtok

2014-11-19, 08:52 AM

Temple of the Burning Light - Hostage Exchange

Temple of the Burning Light

"Please, excuse him." Frost says with a gentle smile as she stands, facing the priestess. "And I'm sorry that this is not the Temple's usual purpose, but you see, my companion here was captured on the field of battle and his employer has come to pay the ransom to get him back. He has not been ill treated and my boss figured it would be appropriate to handle the situation in a neutral place where there would be no favoritism or potential hostilities. I hope we can make up for this transgression by providing donations before we leave." She explains, giving a small bow. "I am called Frost. It is a pleasure to meet you."

[Temple of the Burning Light]

"That's more or less accurate," Dipsnig says. "It's my hope that this place will help us transact this business smoothly and get it over with," he adds in an icy tone, looking impassively at Frost. She and her whip-master have another thing coming, but they don't know it yet.

Temple of the Burning Light

The tauren glares down at Krait, heifer? At least she was insulted by someone with an extended vocabulary, usually they used "miss cow" or "Bovine". Her gaze doesn't linger far on him however as she looks over at Frost. "As neutral ground? Very well, we will ensure that it remains exactly that." She turns to Dipsnig who might note that the many flames burning within the temple seems strangely attracted to him and the kobolt. "That goes especially to you two. We won't tolerate any hostility in here. Is that CLEAR?"

"The prisoner will cause no trouble the promised bribes cannot cover, madam steak," Krait promises, even as he exploits yet another opportunity to insult the tauren. He maintains the same polite, innocent tone as before, mocking the tauren's heritage in such a way that one honestly can't tell if it's out of malice or sheer ignorance. Is he trying to upset her, or does he simply not know how to address one of her kind, and has no idea that his language could be seen as offensive?

MagMart

Frost gives a sigh and sets a hand on her hip, tilting it to one side. "Magtok, please don't do this. It'll be a lot less fun for everyone involved and I'd rather not risk damaging this dress. Do you know how hard it is to find something in my size?" She asks. "Besides, what other rooftop is going to be more appropriate than this one for a Hero vs Villain showdown? Surely someone as crafty as yourself has figured out a way to minimize loss of inventory here. And a way to sell tickets to such a show for an obscene profit."

The cyborg sighs, as he draws a sidearm of his own, and flicks the safety off, before slowly turning it down to its lowest stun setting.

"I don't have a choice, stranger. I have to try to stop you, everyone would find out if I didn't. I've got enough on my plate with ambiguous morality complaints as is, you know? The only thing that could prevent that would be if Malice had somehow stolen Magbot codes beforehand. If you said, and this is just an example, but something like 'Code Draken, Authorization ID 770381, Disperse and Evacuate With Inventory'? Well, they would have no choice but to obey your wishes, and I, left here all on my lonesome, I'd be forced to flee and contact the Channel 13 MagNews team to cover the event. Not for the extra viewers and exclusive footage, of course, but to alert the heroes and rouse the local security forces." Magtok shrugs helplessly. Sorry Brokenfang, but there's just nothing he can do to make this easy for you. He wishes it didn't have to be this way, but-

...Hey wait, where did all the armed Magbots go? Why are they putting all the valuables in boxes, and taking all those boxes to the back of the store? :smallconfused:

Shadowcaller

2014-11-19, 09:12 AM

Lotus Gardens

It was certainly true what she had said, Cessie didn't think Jezebel has a god. Nor would she ever be as gods were something quite different to her. She had never considered the possibility of Jezebel praising her for that fact however. Just the idea of her being lonely on-top just made Jezebel all the more human rather than an actual god to the sorceress, which was a positive thing in this regard as she always seen her in that light. "Don't thank me too much Jezebel, I really looked down at you at the start." She admits, stopping eating the Baklava to focus completely on Jezebel and look her/him in the eyes. "I am no saint and for the longest time I viewed you very... negatively. I understand that you're used to this attitude and probably knew about it but I feel that I must admit that to you. I truly hated you after that night at the hotel. You made me cry." She speaks freely, not something she usually would admit but now it was all out.

[Temple of the Burning Light- Evening]

"Of whom? Themselves of course." The bird squawks again which probably is some sort of laughter to it. "One does not serve, one aids. One does not kneel, one stands by. One does not praise, one discuss. We serve the light but the light also serve us. One commands it far more than it commands us. The light is only the sum of our own learned mistakes this lady should know. But it is known as the Burning Light if this lady is curious."

UncleWolf

2014-11-19, 09:51 AM

Lotus Gardens

"I knew your feelings, and I don't blame you in the least." Jezebel admits before looking at the ground. "I'm just glad we can move past it. I'm sorry for what happened to you, but needless to say I wasn't myself." He says before shaking his head. "No, that's not right. I was myself. And that's what the problem was. And I can't promise that I won't resort to such tactics again. I...I'd do anything to protect this place." He explains before heading over to a bench to take a seat, leaning back to look at the darkening sky. "My people are always very important to me, Cessie. I can't take back what I did, and while I may feel regret for it particularly towards you, I'm not sure I would wish to change what happened. For better or worse, everything I've done has shaped this." At the end, he can't help but give a small laugh. "Not much of an apology, is it?"

Morty

2014-11-19, 10:51 AM

Ionbound

2014-11-19, 11:52 AM

[Temple of the Burning Light- Evening]

The woman nods and says, "I see. Well, then...I suppose I'd like to speak with a servant, then."

Solidarity

2014-11-19, 12:14 PM

[The Pack - Leaving Southside]

He's looking for a path...easier traveling.
He says, bouncing lightly with the girl in his arms.

Spook glances around nervously.

As the lot of them shamble along the crumbling debris of Southside, where once stretched the influence of DART, a feeling might send the hair on their necks on end. An oppressive, unwavering feeling. Like they were being watched. Studied. Or...hunted.

An overwhelming sense of unease might fall on any aware of the danger here, as it builds and builds. It would feel almost as if whatever was causing the disturbance was bounding ever closer. Any with a superior sense of sight or smell would notice there's nothing around for about half a mile. Oddly, the eeriness does little to fade despite it all. Okami might even feel a pair of red glowering eyes flash in his mind.

Morty

2014-11-19, 01:27 PM

[Temple of the Burning Light]

"It's that lowlife you need to be worried about not me," Dipsnig says, icily. "I'm just here to finish this transaction as soon as possible. Then I'll be out of your hair."

Shadowcaller

2014-11-19, 01:48 PM

Lotus Gardens

"Maybe I can understand that, maybe." Cessie replies, trying to see Jezebel's group as her family. It still didn't quite fit though and she still couldn't really approve of how Jezebel had behaved that night. But bygones be bygones, there was a entirely new situation now so it probably wouldn't happen again at the very least. "But it doesn't really matter now anyway. So much has changed and perhaps it was wrong of me to even bring it up again. I just felt we should try to be honest with each other now after all that deceit at the start. Would that be possible for you? If we really are going to attempt to be friends I mean. I barely know you yet after all."

[Temple of the Burning Light- Evening]

The bird squawks once again. "Then this lady has already done so, so she could leave right away." But then his tone becomes more apologetic. "But this one is sorry, it did not mean to offend this lady. Does she like to speak with Argos or perhaps someone with less riddles, hm?" With one of it's wings it gestures into the citadel-temple itself.

[Temple of the Burning Light]

The priestess scoffs. "Very well, but we'll be watching you so don't do anything you'll regret. Either of you." She looks each of them them in the eye. "If you start a fight or cause any trouble to the people here, you will be dealing with more than just me." She makes a gestures at the flames lit all over the hall before returning to her duties.
She and the other in the clergy do seem to be staring at them occasionally however, even if this meeting was supposed to be non-violent, it's certainly not private.

UncleWolf

2014-11-19, 03:31 PM

Temple of the Burning Light

"Thank you, Priestess." Frost says with a slight nod towards her. "Your hospitality is certainly appreciated." With that over with, she gestures over to Krait. "As I said before, he's in good health. He's also unbound. Do you have the payment?"

Lotus Gardens

"As well as this has gone, I'm not sure we'll have to attempt anything at all." He points out with a smile. "And yes, I certainly am willing if you are." Jezebel promises, choosing to drop the past if Cessie is willing to do so. "If there's anything you wish to know of me, all you have to do is ask. My life is an open book now."

MagMart

"Hypothetically of course." Frost says, keeping the smile from her face as she holds a bare arm in front of her and uses her nail to cut several gashes into herself without flinching. "You'd certainly have given me a run for my money, but somewhere along the line my reinforcements started to arrive and you had to disengage." She adds to the story.

Ionbound

2014-11-19, 04:18 PM

[Temple of the Burning Light- Evening]

The woman nods and says, "Indeed," then, taking the gesture as an invitation, walks into the temple. When she does, though, a keen watcher will notice her eyes lose focus as she loses the ability to see.

Recaiden

2014-11-19, 05:53 PM

[The Pack - Leaving Southside]

"What's wrong?"
Atsuko pulls her wings closer around her, whimpering slightly.
The child has felt nothing like this faceless uneasiness before. Where is it all coming from? Who's there?

((Down with posting order! If I haven't replied for a while, unless you're acting at my things directly, go ahead and skip me. Even if you have, I might be able to catch it up next post. I am a noncombatant who is detailing the scene, not a major participant. Don't let me hold you back.))

Aric Kale

2014-11-19, 06:16 PM

The Pack -Leaving Southside

)(Sounds like a plan.)(

I do not know, little one...but it's not close by...yet.
When Trace returns to the group, Okami decides not to split the pack anymore, at least until the dark presence has passed.

The hair on the back of his neck stiffens and he suppresses a growl. Instead, he pulls his brown, fur-lined trenchcoat around himself and the child in his arms.
She would stay safe.

Shadowcaller

2014-11-19, 09:20 PM

Lotus Gardens

Cessie ponders for a moment. "Do you know what Magtok is really like? You probably know him better than I do after all, and I work with him." Not right this moment, but still.

[Temple of the Burning Light- Evening]

Behind the walls it's all quiet. Most of the clergy who work here by day has gone home for the night. What remains are homeless people and a few red garbed men and woman who seem to be keeping check on everything. The usual clergy members are dressed in white so these must have some special position. A night elf woman in these red garbs approaches her with a burning lantern in her hand despite the fact the temple is brightly lit. "May I help you?" She asks gently.

Ionbound

2014-11-19, 09:58 PM

[Temple of the Burning Light- Evening]

The woman turns towards the source of the sound, eyes still defocused, and says, "Hello. I happen to have...Certain interests in this area, and I was looking to meet the people around here. You are?"

Shadowcaller

2014-11-20, 09:19 AM

[Temple of the Burning Light- Evening]

The elf raises one of her long eyebrows. The woman might note that the flame within the lantern seems to be drawn to her as a win was blowing through the temple in her direction. "I'm fire-warden Azure. What sort of interest do you have here? We can give you someplace to sleep if that's what you want."

Solidarity

2014-11-20, 12:15 PM

[The Pack - Leaving so soon?]

The cool Southside wind bites uninvitingly around them, where there is still no sign of a presence albeit the building pressure. The air is crisp and the ground is wrought with dust and ruin from past destruction.

From a sudden mental rush of noise like radio static, a fragmented, hastened voice cuts clear into their heads unless the shifters have any mental resistances against such intrusions.

...Said...

...survivors...orders...

...stay...

...none...alive...

...make sure...

No further words are emitted, but instead they're replaced with a imageless depiction of a predator, like a coiled snake. A deep-set sensation that they are not safe where they are.

Any keeping a lookout might notice subtle movements as a spec in the distance to the east, among the rubble.

Aric Kale

2014-11-20, 12:44 PM

The Pack - Leaving Southside

Oh, that can't be good.
The wolves rush forward, less concerned about stealth, knowing that something out there had likely already found them.
That did not matter.
Safety matters.

The child matters.

Okami keeps a close grip on her, if all else fails, he'll pass the child along to Spook and face their predator himself...

Ionbound

2014-11-20, 05:20 PM

[Temple of the Burning Light- Evening]

The woman nods, not noticing the fire, and says, "Well...Quite frankly, it's a bit complicated. I can explain in-depth later if you so desire, but for now, just trust that I mean no harm. I simply wish to know about the people I might be neighbors with."

UncleWolf

2014-11-20, 05:36 PM

Lotus Gardens

Jezebel can't help but burst out into laughter. "Of all the possible things you can ask me, you want to know about him? I can look like him if that's your wish, but I assure you, I look far better than he does no matter what gender I am." He says with a smile and a shake of his head. "Magtok...he is a far better actor than I ever will be. He's convinced the entire Nexus that he's a self-centered selfish greedy bastard, and much of the time, he is. For all of that though, as far as I can tell, he cares about what happens. Far more than most. Like me, he'll do anything to protect the people he cares about. His clones and bots might be fair game, but gods help you if you hurt one of his friends."

Shadowcaller

2014-11-20, 05:58 PM

[Temple of the Burning Light- Evening]

More of the flames start to direct themselves towards her as they speak and at least the elf is throwing a glance at them. "...alright." She replies with a hint of hesitation. "This citadel is called Light's Hearth and it is owned by The Burning Light. They- we're an organization of sort, spanning many worlds and dimensions where we provide aid and protection to those who lack it. That's the gist of it at least, you won't have to fear us." She smiles faintly. "May I ask your name?"

Lotus Gardens

"I couldn't help but to be curious and I didn't want to ask you anything private considering that I myself probably wouldn't answer that. You know how I am." Cessie replies, laughing along with Jezebel. Perhaps even laughing a bit at herself and her sense of privacy. "I knew he was a good actor, just not that good. I've heard quite a different story from DC which is why I wanted your perspective too."

UncleWolf

2014-11-20, 06:09 PM

Lotus Gardens

"Hate blinds people. I know that as well as any other but I've been trying to look through it." Jezebel admits, taking their dishes back to the bakery. He's gone for just a moment before returning, taking a look at the nearly-night sky and looking thoughtful himself. "There's one more thing I'd like to show you if you have the time. It'll be well worth it." He promises.

Shadowcaller

2014-11-20, 06:16 PM

Lotus Gardens

"No comments about DC. I think I know even less about him than Magtok." She had just a brief idea of what DC had done and endured so she didn't feel like she could judge him either. Then she waits for Jezebel to return.
"Of course, you just got me very curious." But she usually was, especially in her current state. She will eagerly follow along Jezebel to see what she has to show.

UncleWolf

2014-11-20, 06:29 PM

Lotus Gardens

Jezebel leads Cessie for about five minutes into the middle of the park where a concrete foundation seems to just sit there with nothing on it. Until Jezebel taps her shoulder anyway. The moment she does, Cessie will see a several story tall tower standing there, made of white marble with a fire at the top. "It's a small sanctuary I built for myself." Jezebel explains, heading towards a door at the base and opening it, revealing a stairwell that leads up. "Come on up." He adds, giving Cessie a smile over his shoulder before going up the steps.

If Cessie follows, it'll take a while for her to reach the top of the eight story tower, and when she does, she'll find Jezebel stirring the brazier a bit to provide some comfortable warmth for the pair. There's a railing all around the small top, and once Jezebel is done messing with the fire, he sits down on the edge, leaning against the rail's supports so he doesn't fall. "Take a seat if you want." He offers.

The view up here is rather spectacular, looking over all of the Gardens and much of Riverside itself. From up here it's easy to see the different districts and the river, but Jezebel's eyes are only on the Gardens. One by one street lamps are lit below and despite the encroaching night, people still seem to be wandering around and enjoying one another's company. Music still plays and shops are still open, but from up here it all seems to be more...humble. Humble and at peace.

"I thought you'd like to see the result of your choices in the past. Even if this is an unwitting result, you still had a hand in this, Cessie."

Shadowcaller

2014-11-20, 08:20 PM

Lotus Gardens

Cessie hurries up the stairs, once again glad she had pants instead of one of her dresses. It would have made it all so much more difficult climbing all this. "Indirectly perhaps." Cessie comments as she looks down at the streets below. Preferring to stand at the moment to get an better view of the place. "It is certainly beautiful though, in a way it reminds me of Hestopia. There is a park there which is much like this, might be hard to believe considering how conservative my home city is. But there is still music and dance there. Just like in your home here."

Blanche Street - Lyns home

Lyn will arrive in her home, but after she's given a moment of respite a figure appears right behind her...

"SUPRISE!"

Deathkeeper

2014-11-20, 08:27 PM

Blanche Street- Lyn's Home

Lyn jumps a solid foot in the air as she whirls around, a hand flying to clamp itself firmly over her mouth, though the very small note that does escape her lips is probably heard by most of the building. Her eyes recognize the intruder, though she needs a few moments to catch her breath before she can respond.
"Ack! Libra! What are you doing here?" she says, more just surprised than annoyed.

UncleWolf

2014-11-20, 08:36 PM

Lotus Gardens

If Cessie had worn a dress, Jezebel would have just carried her up instead. "Indirectly, but it is still partly yours. I just want you to understand that despite everything that's happened to you, you've accomplished great things, Cessie. These people might not know you, but they owe you quite a bit. Should you wish, this place could become a second home for you. There will always be a place here waiting if you wish." He explains. "I can't say I know how you've felt lately, but I'm here to help any way I can." Jezebel doesn't look up at Cessie as he speaks, instead resting his head on one of the bars and closing his eyes.

Shadowcaller

2014-11-20, 09:45 PM

Lotus Gardens

Pfffh, like if. :smalltongue:
Cessie looks curiously at Jezebel. A second home? "Interesting, but perhaps I shouldn't take such decisions while I'm drunk." She starts with a giggle. "I'm not sure how much i'd stop by, but I certainly can't see any harm of being welcome here. I'm sure there are more colorful characters than just you around, anyone in particular I should know of?" She asks as she's half-looking at Jezebel, half-looking at the breathtaking view from the tower.

Blanche Street- Lyn's Home

Libra is still dressed in the same roman dress she had at the wish contest. Apparently she seems to have taking a liking to it. "I told you I would come and visit you after the contest didn't I?" She asks with a grin. "I can already hear that ýou're going to be a great banshee too, that was some great screaming!"

Deathkeeper

2014-11-20, 09:49 PM

Blanche Street- Lyn's Home

Lyn stops and listens a bit. There's certainly a lot of clatter. She grimaces.
"Uh, maybe? But that was just an accident, and I think I just sent at least ten random people into a panic. How am I supposed to keep everyone safe if trying to scare off a few criminals starts a panic in everyone within a mile radius?" she says, rather embarrassed.

Shadowcaller

2014-11-20, 10:04 PM

Blanche Street- Lyn's Home

"You must train your voice so you can control it better of course! That way you won't accidentally scream, or scare people unintentionally!" Libra proclaims as she points at the other woman. "But anyway, I like you Lyn so I'm granting you an extra bonus super wish! Plus, did you consider my offer?"

Deathkeeper

2014-11-20, 10:11 PM

Blanche Street- Lyn's Home

Lyn gulps. And sighs just a little bit, too.
"Well, I can't really practice in a populated area, I can't leave or I'll lose my job, and I can't really leave the problem as-is. Is there any way you could give me something more...subtle than a scream-thing? I don't know, clearly you know these sorts of magic things better than me.
And uh, I guess I wouldn't mind if you messed with me a little bit. It's not that big a change, after all. But Wolfy just fixed my wardrobe! If you mess with my proportions at all you have to make sure you change all my clothes to match, because I can't afford to replace them!"
She's not really sure that she wants the change, but Libra seems really insistent, and it seems like a bad idea to get her upset. Besides, it's not like it could really hurt could it?

Shadowcaller

2014-11-21, 12:38 AM

Blanche Street- Lyn's Home

"Aw, but screaming is so cool..." Libra replies, sounding a bit disappointed. What should she think of now? She had actually pondered the banshee thing for quite a bit and now it wasn't good enough? Poor shame, poor shame.
Wait, shame? That was it!
"But let's get started!" She says with a big smile. "Let me just change your aspect a little bit then..." Suddenly Lyn's hair and eyes will turn blood-red while her eyes also become perfect mirrors to anyone looking her in the eyes (so if she looked in a mirror she could see herself in her eyes). Then two black goat horns will suddenly burst from her forehead and her ears turn into long white goat ears.

Lys will in addition suddenly be able to control every part of her hair like they were her own limbs. Her skin will keep the same unnaturally clear white tone. "And bigger huh?" Libra then asks while looking at Lyn intently to see if there were any protests during the part where the taxi drivers breasts swelled to an respectable size. Her clothes adjusting to this (very silly) change.

"That okay?" Lyn will still be immortal, but instead of feeding on fear, she will be feeding on guilt. She probably have to ask for more details however.

Deathkeeper

2014-11-21, 01:07 AM

Blanche Street- Lyn's Home

Lyn shudders as Libra tampers with her very self, and just maybe makes a tiny sound like a bleat when she sprouts horns. Maybe. You'd have to have been paying attention. She steps over to a closet door and opens it to look at the mirror on its other side. She looks over her red locks, which she's surprised to find moving a bit to help her do so. She pulls at one of her ears.
"Gosh these things are big. I guess it looks alright, though I hope no one mistakes me for a demon with these horns."
She gives a small yelp though when her chest suddenly increases in size and weight, and almost stumbles forward a bit. She'll never be ready for that sort of thing. She looks at herself again, as surprised at that as anything else, putting a hand to her chest for a moment before chuckling a bit. At this point everything's just ridiculous.
"Yeesh, didn't you say 'medium' before? I hope you strengthened my back..." she jokes, though quite badly. Now, Libra's getting somewhat better, since unlike some of her other tries at this trick, Lyn's proportions are still totally within believable human standards, and not something that would make someone assume the person used magic and/or is from an anime.
Still big compared to what she's used to and expected, though. Very silly indeed.

Gullara

2014-11-21, 08:17 AM

[Alleyway]

"We're the Howling Commandos, licensed to uphold the law here," the gnoll woman says, presenting her license. "Wrikt, take a look at her. She's losing a lot of blood."

The male gnoll straps his flail to his belt and tries to roll up Kitty's clothes or otherwise get them out of the way so he can examine the source of the bleeding. His keen smell is also helpful in ascertaining the severity of the damage. He has a rudimentary first aid kit with him, which he'll use to try to stem the blood flow a little.

[Alleyway]

Kitty is more than willing to do what she's instructed now and otherwise let them staunch the bleeding. She looks dazed and suddenly exhausted. Thankfully, the bleeding can be slowed to the point that it's not dangerous, but she's certainly going to need more thorough treatment.

Shadowcaller

2014-11-21, 10:56 AM

Blanche Street- Lyn's Home

"Oh, so that's too large eh?" Libra asks quite seriously, as if this was some sort of science project. "But aren't you more curious about your new abilities? It took a while to come up with that you know!" Libra time at least.

Deathkeeper

2014-11-21, 12:16 PM

Blanche Street- Lyn's Home

Lyn rolls her eyes a bit.
"I was getting to that! So, would you care to enlighten me on what you've made me this time, then?" she asks, maybe a little sarcastic. Or maybe more than a little.

Shadowcaller

2014-11-21, 03:15 PM

Blanche Street- Lyn's Home

"Good question! You're now everyones favorite fey, the yulezel! Well, almost everyones I guess." Libra attempts to explain. "They're like... fey of guilt and joyfulness." Libra suddenly has a note in her hand which she appears to be reading from. "The yulezel are goat-like fey who usually live close to villages and other small settlements. They spend their days making gifts for people, especially children. Then one time every year they move around the village in the guise of a goat and delivers gifts of presents to the good children and coal to the bad ones."

She scratches her head and looks closely at her note. "That's the legend at least. See, they like feed on joy, but they have to have guilt too and not everyone go about it in the same way. Like many other fey they can visit peoples dreams where they come as a terrifying half-goat to the guilty to make them feel shame and a normal silly goat to the innocent to make them feel joy. They're also known to steal guilty peoples possessions and replace them with pieces of coal or other scrap. Since besides dreamwalking they can squeeze through impossibly small holes, shapeshift between a few forms and use their hair to watch over people or make little hair golems to help them out."