Reinholdt's Repository

[Reinholdt]

[Caedem Temple]

Reinholdt tries to frown. "Excuse me, my body may have two few legs, but it's still just fine thank you very much." He went through dark dealings with a witch to get this body! And he kind of gets why a disembodied mind in a mask has issue with it, but what's Obriane's deal all of a sudden? Is she... playing along until an opportunity comes? That's something he would do, but this just feels... off.

[Gullara]

[Caedem Temple]

"Obriane?" Kitsuki asks apprehensively. It's really starting to look like Obriane's been possessed too. This is where things get tough...

"Would you control your pets?" Ọbasìn speaks through Rein's mouth again. "Let's not bicker. As much as I loath to admit it, I could use your assistance. Deliver me to a carrion bird and I'll owe you a boon. Fair, yes?"

Okay, enough of this. Kitty extends her hands and musters one more stream of spirit fire and washes Obriane in it. It may look alarming, but it's harmless to Obriane. It doesn't always work, but it can startle a spirit out of her.

[Shadowcaller]

[Caedem Temple]

Obriane twitches as Kitty mentions her name and turns to her. "Kitty, please go." It's hard to tell if this is the actual Obriane speaking or whatever will that is controlling her actions at the moment but she does give her a pleading look before turning back to Rein.
Yet before she can utter another word to him, or rather the being in possession of his body, she is washed with spectral flames and quickly backs away.
The breastplate seems to be protecting her from the worst of it but considering it's also supposed to be protecting her from possession it can't be doing that good a job. "Kitty! It's- it won't help. Stay down." This time her words are enhanced with a powerful suggestion that Kitty might be all too familiar with. The things she have done for that voice...

Now Obriane looks to Rein again. "A boon? Very well, but only since I know you Ọbasìn."

[Gnrlshrimp]

[Milton Island Assault]

"Uh, yeah. The very same!" The goblin nods and smiles as if to further confirm this.
The gnolls don't seem any less uneasy though, especially when Ilpholin demands them to take her to the 'god-goo'.

"Oh, that's down in the bunker. Beyond that corridor with the curse." She turn turns to Damon. "I'd say that the runes stopped glowing after like... ten minutes? They don't fade though, they're just near-invisible when they aren't glowing. If you go down there they might just trigger again though. But... maybe we could fetch it for you?"

Then one of the civilian-looking gnolls suddenly interjects with their arms. "Not a good idea." They insist.

But before they can say anything else the rest of the gnolls are suddenly staring in surprise at something and Ilpholin and Damon might also notice that what seems to be an holographic pink eyeball have appeared to their right. If either of them know anything about scrying magic they might know that it sometimes manifests as this. Usually the eye is invisible however, it's the source of the magic they might have been able to feel. But unfourunately (or perhaps fortunately) it's not of demonic origin.

The eye simply stares as the two groups for a moment before it changes shape, becoming a holographic magical projection of the face of a drow woman with shock-pink hair. She appears rather roughened up though, her hair an outright mess. "You're not going to have time for this." She remarks with a look at Ilpholin and Damon. "I'm Calastra, and it sounds like we have mutual interests. But as there isn't much time, I'll be brief. The lich you're talking about is my enemy and I just barely survived an encounter with her. Now I'm taking a gamble that she won't expect me to hit her while I'm down. Hence, I'm going to help you grab that demonic artifact of hers and destroy it. Do you accept my help? She could return to her stronghold at any point now as I failed to stop her so I need a decison." First an angel now a drow mage? Seems like a lot of people like to help Ilpholin here...

[Milton Island Assault]

Damon glances at the eyeball- sorry, drow, then back at Ilpholin.

"The choice iss of coursse yourss, missstressss." Is it wise to start calling Ilpholin that, Damon? Perhaps he's seen enough of drow to know that status might be important when they show up. "But in the interesst of pressenting all optionss to you, I do have sssome formss that are resssisstant to magic. I might be able to bypasss their trap that way. If I'm wrong though, well, it wouldn't end well. But it isss an alternative to trusssting in the asssisstance of thisss unknown individual."

[Reinholdt]

[Caedem Temple]

Reinholdt's eyes flick back and forth between Kitsuki and Obriane. He's not sure what's going on, but it's clear things are escalating. Two old and powerful spirits of the temple probably. Warlord and High Priest perhaps?

"I." Either way, Ọbasìn seems to have struck a nerve with Rein. "Am NOT." Rein raises the knife. "A PET!!" He attempts to jab it into his other hand and force himself to drop the mask with the sudden pain. Not especially deep, he doesn't want to severely damage it, but it'll still hurt. He's nobody's pet! He's his own cat who follows his own rules. No one tells him what to do! Except for Felandria. And Harley. And sometimes Sophie and Callie and Cal and...

[Milton Island Assault]

Ilpholin glances at Damon. Mistress was an interesting word choice, but... she can't say she dislikes the way it makes her feel. Either way though, she'd hate to risk losing him in such a manner.

As for this offer, well, she is certainly distrusting of any drow. But she doesn't see this as a surprise either. It's not that a lot of people suddenly want to help Ilpholin. It's that they're rallying around the idea of giving the demons exactly what they deserve. This is the inevitable backlash for the demonic scourge being a terrible, awful blight upon the land. Of course people want to help her. Because demons are the worst.

Though this one says more specifically she's the lich's foe. She could be lying. But tricks are for people who needed to switch the advantage and they were already on the back foot with this tunnel. There was no need to trick them at all at this point, unless the drow was truly afraid of Ilpholin getting through. Believable if they already knew each other, but they don't so...

"Would rather you in one piece Damon. Very well. I accept your help Calastra."

[Shadowcaller]

[Milton Island Assault]

"Wise, I have already been scrying this island for some time so I know this 'trap' you're talking about." Calastra remarks with a nod at Damon. It could explain the feeling of being watched while going through the bunker. "What I'm going to do is give you two items. One to protect you from the curse and the other to contain the item you're after. Since it will need to be contained or you're all screwed. Keep in mind though, neither of these are going to protect you from any demons you encounter inside that place but I trust you can take care of that yourself." She takes a deep breath. "Now just sit tight will I make them and teleport them to your location. Shouldn't take more than a few minutes." A beat. "Maaaybe half an hour? I'm doing this as fast as I can, okay?"

Then the illusionary image fades away along with the scrying eye unless the two had any further questions.

[Gullara]

[Caedem Temple]

The flames cut out immediately and Kitsuki drops to her knees. She bows her head, instantly cowed.

"The pact is formed, then." But as for the other pet, Rein is able to jab his own hand, and the involuntary reaction does get around the compulsion. The mask clatters to the floor, unable to speak without a borrowed mouth.

But what has been set in motion?

[Gnrlshrimp]

[Milton Island Assault]

Damon shrugs, and sits.

"Asss you wissh, Ilpholin. Ssoundss like we're waiting, then." He doesn't have much to do while waiting, so he just poofs a ball of black fire into his hand and starts idly tossing it back and forth. "Isss there anything of ussse we could be doing while waiting?"

[Reinholdt]

[Milton Island Assault]

Half an hour?! They should have gotten this plith half an hour ago by now! Ilpholin makes a throaty grumble.

Fine. Whatever. She's not sitting idle though. "If you have a magic resistant form, you should probably poke your head just in the entrance to check on the angels that were in there," Ilpholin suggests.

"I'll escort them," Ilpholin motions to the group that didn't actually uphold their end of the bargain at all. It'd be faster and safer to off them. She must be feeling generous. "To Ir-Vid-Sid. At least one of them may have useful information for him."

[Meowmai]

[Fey and Falcon Escapades]

Rein lifts a surprised eyebrow at Kes finally asserting herself a little. Flying is truly her passion isn't it?

"If you promise to crash into me again." Reinholdt grins and takes her hand. Stepping outside into the warm sun and gentle breeze, he takes a deep breath, feeling the air clear his lungs and his head. "I'd love to." He takes a look around, as if trying to decide something, before shrugging a bit. "Alright racer, where to, hmm? I'll test your limits."

He turns pink, floating in the air with his weird hover flying that he does, a wry and confident smirk on his face.

[Fey and Falcon Escapades]

A slight pout comes onto Kestrel's face at Reinholdt's comment. "Hey, I only crashed 'cus it was my first time flying, and there wasn't much space in those ruins!" Her skin turned pink in much the same way as Rein's had, and she too began to hover- admittedly, looking a lot more awkward than her companion, as she had to flap her arms in a rather silly manner. "I dunno, back to the inn maybe? Or uh, no wait, why not to the top of that hill over there!?" She turned her head and nodded off towards a hill to their side. She wanted to point to it, but well, with her arms needed for flying, pointing was going to be rather difficult. The hill wasn't too far away, so it seemed like a good distance for a race.

[Reinholdt]

[Fey and Falcon Escapades]

Reinholdt tries to wave Kestrel's protests aside. "Of course, of course. We all crash our first time." Rein doesn't remember if he crashed, but he presumes he did. It was over a decade ago.

It's honestly more of a struggle not to laugh at Kestrel's awkward flapping. "A-alright, to the hill then. Go!" If he doesn't distract himself with this now he's just going to burst out right there. So he turns pink and takes off.

He's fairly fast, but he has an upper limit he cannot surpass because his flight is manipulated purely by thought and will. Kestrel on the other hand can raise her speed by flapping harder, flapping faster, flapping furiously. It probably becomes a question of how badly she wants to win this.

[Shadowcaller]

[Milton Island Assault]

"Uhh... I guess we're free to go then?" The goblin inquires as the two are considering what to do next. Earning her glares from the gathered gnolls.

Speaking of which, by now Ilpholin and Damon can see a lone draachi coming up from behind one of the thorny hills of the island. They gesture at them (or perhaps the gnolls) and emits a loud screeching sound. At this signal there's all of sudden a whole force of draachi descending towards them from the hill.
This must be the other group of draachi, the one that was ordered to attack the gnolls directly, coming up from behind one of the hills. They can certainly recognize some of these owl people even if they might all look pretty uniform to them.

Two of the gnolls panics at the sight of so many alien soldiers coming towards them and start to run towards the hatch. But the armed gnoll, the one with the rifle, turns to Ilpholin and Damon and barks. "Tell them we've surrendered! There's nothing but civilians here!"

[Caedem Temple]

"A 'pact'? So old-fashioned." Obriane remarks with a shake of her head as her eyes are now meeting Rein's rather than the being possessing him. "Welcome back, Rein." She remarks with a warm smile. "Now, I can tell you've been waiting to do this ever since we met, so why don't you be a dear and help me off with this armor?" She gestures at her breastplate, her voice now carrying a strong compulsion which will be difficult to ignore.

[Reinholdt]

[Caedem Temple]

Freaking ghostly prick. Rein's half a mind to smash that mask if he was sure it wouldn't just release whatever was inside.

"Th-thanks?" Rein thinks, half-way into a makeshift bandage for his hand, as of yet unfinished. He has to blink at Obriane's next words though, taken aback. Each blink draws her closer like she was sliding across the floor. No... wait. His feet are moving towards her. He's pretty sure he wants to stop them. Right? They definitely don't stop either way.

"I think that's vastly oversimplifying my desires," Reinholdt says. He's not denying it outright, but he has other considerations to think of! Like Harley and this kinda spooky, musty temple and Kitty. And the very high likelihood Obriane was possessed. No. Certainty. Obriane's armor was spirit protection wasn't it? Something powerful must need it off. Rein tries squeezing that protective amulet they gave him earlier, hoping it would ward off whatever's gotten into him.

"Try not to panic Obriane, but I think you've been possessed. Kitty, a little help here?" He can't seem to draw his eyes away from Obriane's to check on Kitsuki. There was something overwhelming in Obriane's eyes. Something powerful. It was understandable that Rein would find his fingers working those straps off of her armor for her under that gaze, the dull throbbing in his hand not proving a powerful enough deterrent at this point to stop him.

[Gullara]

[Caedem Temple]

Kitsuki tilts her head up as the two exchange words. There's uncertainty and fear in her eyes, but also recognition. She only tears her vision away when Rein says her name. She watches him for a moment, and then looks back at Obriane. "Obriane?" She asks, her tone seeking instruction.

[Shadowcaller]

[Caedem Temple]

"I assure you Rein, I'm not possessed." There is an odd sense of Truth to her statement. "If anyone seems to be panicking, it's you Rein. Kitty is completely calm, aren't you pet?" Her gaze briefly touches the kitsune, filling her with all sort of warm feelings for even the moment of attention she just got.
Then her gaze returns to the treasure hunter. "But if you don't think you're up for the task I can always ask her to help out. Just figured you might want to get involved. You haven't properly experienced it yet after all and it's quite something, isn't it Kitty?" Her name is called but this time Obriane is not looking her way, not until she answered this question at least. Made Rein understand just what Obriane is talking about.

[Reinholdt]

[Caedem Temple]

What? Kitty what are you doing?

"I wouldn't say I'm panicked yet. More... confused." Maybe a touch concerned. Maybe a bit more. Did Obriane just call Kitty her pet? But... it isn't possession. Somehow. The Truth established that. "You are acting, well, like a completely different person."

That sounds like possession! But since it's not. Multiple personality disorder? That doesn't explain why Rein is so readily taking Obriane's armor off. Or why she wants him to. Or why she looks more and more fetching with each piece that peels away. It's not that he actually wants to do this. Or anything. Probably.

"Whoooa, I am plenty up to the task, thank you. I've taken lots of womens' armors off." A complete lie. This is legitimately the first time he's ever done this. He doesn't usually mess with heavy armor. Do you pull this strap or loosen it? Uhhh... loosen, right? Always loosen. Easy? "Experienced what? What is Obriane talking about Kitty?"

[Gullara]

[Caedem Temple]

Kitsuki simply nods as Obriane's question. She was... mostly calm. She's trembling, but Obriane's worse are a reassurance. "Her." Kitsuki doesn't even take her eyes off Obriane to reply to Rein this time. "She's everything, the world. You just haven't spent enough time around her yet."

[Shadowcaller]

[Caedem Temple]

Her player had apparently missed that Rein had started taking off her armor already, but we'll just roll with it.

Obriane smiles at Kitty's answer, once again giving the kitsune that divine attention. "Kitty certainly has a way with words don't you think? I've seen the way you look at her, she's quite wonderful isn't she?" Obriane inquires as she lifts her arms and holds them out to the sides to allow Rein to help remove her armor.

[Reinholdt]

[Caedem Temple]

Taking off heavy armor probably takes this long anyways.

"Yes, Kitty's pretty amazing. Very sweet. I'd really expect no less from two who are engaged." Almost saccharine if the timing wasn't exceptionally strange. Everything about this felt fuzzy. Weird. Surreal? "And I understand the desire to share such strong positive feelings. Some people are really into that, you know?"

Reinholdt finally finishes removing all of Obriane's armor. It's uncertain if his step back is because the job is done and he wishes to escape or because he wants the full view instead of the close up. His eyes do tend to wander. "But while I'm not sure Harley's the world to me, she's still very important to me and I do know she doesn't want to share like some of my friends and I really want to respect those feelings. So this would probably be a good place to stop."

[Gullara]

[Caedem Temple]

Kitsuki simply kneels there, watching. She's waiting to be called on again. Not that she knows what exactly is going on here either.

[Meowmai]

Fey and Falcon Escapades

Kestrel got a surprisingly impressive head-start on Reinholdt, thanks to the furious speed at which she flapped her arms. Unfortunately, this was not a sustainable pace. Years of archery and climbing had given the birdgirl surprising arm strength for her size, but she put far too much energy into flying at the start and her arms quickly began to tire, letting Reinholdt begin to gain ground on her! But he's not quite fast enough, and Kestrel's determination to get there first pays off, the birdgirl whooping in delight as she made it to the top of the hill first!

She swings down to land, laughing in and reveling in her victory- before promptly wobbling, and faceplanting hard into the dirt.

"Ow..."

[Gnrlshrimp]

[Milton Island Assault]

Damon glances off at the latest group approaching, and gives a shrug. He's not really concerned about who lives and who dies. "I'm sssure you can talk them out of killing anyone, Ilpholin. I'll go have a look, asss you ssay."

He slinks off, his form elongating as he goes, taking on a serpent-like quality as he shifts to one of his aforementioned magic-resistant forms, slithering away back towards the trap to poke his head in as-instructed and see if it is still all curse-y down there...and if there's any angels still in one piece.

[Reinholdt]

[Milton Island Assault]

Ilpholin glares at the goblin as well, pointing her finger in the goblin's face. "I literally just said you weren't. Pay attention." Being escorted is a step of freedom above certain things maybe, but it's definitely not free to go!

Which two gnolls don't seem to understand. Ilpholin's tempted to trip them up, but aggressively dealing with them now would only perpetuate any misunderstanding and a battlefield is chaotic enough. Besides, they sealed their own fates running towards the hatch. If Damon doesn't kill them, the draachi inside will. Good. Two less gnolls.

She'll attempt to wave the draachi down instead. "Hold. These ones belong to Ir-Vid-Sid per his request."

[Fey and Falcon Escapades]

Oh no! Reinholdt lost! Kes picked this up quick. Err... maybe too quick. Rein lands beside her shortly thereafter, with a considerably softer touchdown. He'll offer his hand to help her back up. "Pretty impressive. But you gotta remember to slow down when you're landing. Or rather, before you land." Slowing down during the landing is called crashing. "Are you ok?"

Hopefully she doesn't need medical attention.

"I forgot to set the wager. So what did you win?"

[Shadowcaller]

[Milton Island Assault - Damon]

Damon will return to the hatch undisturbed unless he's planning to deal with the two gnolls that ran off.
But as he approaches the hatch, he can hear someone climbing up it. By the time he can peer down into it Damon can see Cerabella emerge, the angel seemingly having returned to normal-size, or at least close to.

Yet she seems to be struggling with more than just having climbed a ladder. Her movements sluggish and feeble, nearly causing her to collapse once she managed to reach the end of the ladder.

"Don't get close! A terrible curse is still bearing down on this body." She declares while stepping away from him. "But... you managed to get away... good. So don't go back down there, it's taking most my strength to fight off its effects."

[Milton Island Assault - Ilpholin]

The goblin freezes and swallows audibly as she gets the finger of accusation pointed her way.
She doesn't even move when Ilpholin turns her attention to the draachi that are bearing down upon them.

The owl-creatures do seem to recognize her and while they don't seem to understand exactly what she's saying the name "Ir-Vid-Sid" is enough for them. They come to a sudden halt and walk the rest of the way while bringing up ropes they seem to intend to subdue the gnolls with.

They don't seem to like this idea either but this seem to be an relief. They shout to ones of the group that ran away and eventually they stop and raise their arms in surrender.
Looks like things here are under relative control for now.

[Caedem Temple]

"Stop what exactly?" Obriane inquires as she turns her head in Rein's direction. "What's weighing you down with concern, Rein? You should spell it for me so I can put your discomforted mind at ease. I happen to be an expert at that."

[Reinholdt]

[Milton Island Assault - Ilpholin]

Ugh. Those two were supposed to be beyond reason. Free kills. Well whatever. She didn't promise to protect only the brave among them.

The smart gnoll among the group probably already knows what's next. Ilpholin holds out her hand, palm up, towards the armed gnoll.

"Your rifle," she says calmly.

[Caedem Temple]

"Stop umm..." Wait, did Rein misread the room? Maybe Obriane was just... being a little weird? He didn't know her that well, did he? Spent all of fifteen minutes with her once. Kitsuki didn't seem concerned so Rein shouldn't be either.

On the other hand, she keeps talking about how Rein's been looking at them and has her armor off and seemed to be talking to the mask thing like she knew it. He's tempted to stick with his initial gut feeling of something is wrong. Instincts are made to be trusted, to be followed. "Well, stop... disarmoring? There may still be spirits about that it could protect you from and there really isn't any reason to take it off yet. Right?" Rein leaves wiggle room in case he did misinterpret her actions.

[Shadowcaller]

[Milton Island Assault - Ilpholin]

The gnolls shoots her with an icy hateful glare but still does what they're asked and slowly walk up to her while handing her the rifle.
Meanwhile, the rest of the gnolls (and the one goblin) are being subdued and tied up by the draachi. They're quiet and methodical, their strange owl-like faces betraying no emotion that Ilpholin can read. It seems like they're simply doing their duty however, not being especially rough but hardly allowing the gnolls to tardy either.

[Caedem Temple]

"There are no spirits here which can harm me here now, Rein. That's what you hired me to be able to tell you, wasn't it? Besides, the heat within this tomb is starting to get unbearable frankly." Now that she mentions it, Rein might feel strangely warm. Or perhaps that's another heat entierly?
Either way, Obriane will stretch now that she's out of the armor and then walk up to Kitty to pat her on the head. "Don't you think so, pet? We should get out now that we're done, get somewhere more comfortable and relax."

[Reinholdt]

[Milton Island Assault - Ilpholin]

A wise choice. Ilpholin looks the rifle over, but doesn't really know how to unload it so just slings it across her back instead.

Personally, she can't help but admire the draachi's efficiency. Staying practical, even in taking prisoners. It's too early to say Ilpholin's in love, but she definitely has some new best friends.

She patiently waits for each prisoner to be secure. Whether the draachi lead the way or she does, Ilpholin will still need to explain the situation to Ir-Vid-Sid.

[Caedem Temple]

"Uhh... I guess." Reinholdt did hire them. He just didn't expect to have cleared out the place. But Obriane's right. They killed the spirits that were loose and the rest are bound in that golem. He should relax.

Besides, she's right. "It is getting kind of hot in here, huh?" Rein tugs at his shirt. Usually these places are cooler. Maybe something about the way this tomb was built is keeping the heat trapped. And he did work up a bit of a sweat removing that armor. It had nothing to do with the way Obriane stretched or how Kitty was leaning.

Rein clears his throat and tries glancing away, but his eyes return soon enough. So instead he just takes off his jacket, leaving him in his tight shirt before steps over to the mask, kneeling down and pulling out an iron box. By his understanding iron can contain fey and spirits and the like. He cautiously tries to maneuver the mask into the box using his jacket and the lid without picking it up with his hands. "Well I'm not carrying your armor home. Is that... pet thing new? I didn't know you two were... uhh, that kind of relationship."

[Gullara]

[Caedem Temple]

"Yes love. We should." She replies, looking up into Obriane's eyes with adoration. Rein's question shakes her out of it and she flushes bright red. "No, uh, this isn't typical..." This situation contrasted with Rein being there to question it totally shuts her brain down for a moment. It's difficult to reconcile.

The mask can be scooped up with little trouble.. Without someone touching it, it can't do much.

[Gnrlshrimp]

[Milton Island Assault - Damon]

For the briefest moment, the thought crosses Damon's mind that this might be a perfect opportunity to add an angelic form to his repertoire.

For a moment. Just a moment.

Then he slinks back, his blurred, serpent-esque form staring unblinkingly at the angel. "Still in effect then. A pity. We may have a solution, in thirty minutes or so."

[Meowmai]

Spoiler

Show

[Fey and Falcon Escapades]

Oh no! Reinholdt lost! Kes picked this up quick. Err... maybe too quick. Rein lands beside her shortly thereafter, with a considerably softer touchdown. He'll offer his hand to help her back up. "Pretty impressive. But you gotta remember to slow down when you're landing. Or rather, before you land." Slowing down during the landing is called crashing. "Are you ok?"

Hopefully she doesn't need medical attention.

"I forgot to set the wager. So what did you win?"

Kestrel held out her hand towards Reinholdt, gratefully accepting his assistance in pulling her to her feet. She groaned in pain as she did so. It was nothing serious, but her arms hurt like heck from all that frantic flapping and everywhere else felt heavily bruised from the crash. "Yeah, yeah, I'm okay I think," She responded through gritted teeth. Why was landing so hard? She groaned again, inspecting herself to see if anything looked particularly bad. Thankfully, nothing more than a couple bad-looking bruises and a few scrapes or grazes. Certainly nothing that needs medical attention! "It's probably gonna hurt for a while though, but I definitely didn't break a bone or anything like that." She gave Reinholdt a half-smile, half-grimace.

"... I don't think we were wagering anything? Though, she poked her tongue out at him, "if you're willing to hand over a couple coins or buy me some food I wouldn't complain!"