Vigil VII: Strife Amidst the Clouds

[Ashen Lilies]

[Wenomir's Office - Cass]

"That's right," says Cass, her voice taking on a harder, slightly forceful edge. Her fingers tighten, digging into his chest, and she gives him an aggressive nip on the base of his neck near his shoulder, before coming back up to whisper in his ear. "Sit back. Relax. Let me give you what you need."


And with that, she pulls the curtain down around them.

[Shadowcaller]

The Saint, the Urchin and the Satyr

Presumably this takes place after the seaside plot, yeah.

The satyr looks between the two, pausing for a moment as her gaze lingers on the knight. She accepted this far more quickly than she had thought.
Good. This was good.

Now she just needed to explain this in a simple way. Thus she looks to Fid first. "Let me answer your question first, miss. See, the spirit world exists as a mirror to everything we can see and touch. Our minds organize everything by concepts like say, eyes, blue, sky..." Jaahlyn gestures at Fid and then the sky above them.
"But we also invent concepts of things we can't see yet still influences our lives. Like anger, hunger, happiness... so all these concepts exist mirrored within this realm as a form of tiny spirit. Thus, our 'soul', as in our spiritual mirror image, is like our actual body made up of smaller parts all working together as a greater whole. So the idea here is to bring out the spirit or spirits representing the problems miss Lazarus is facing and deal with them." She raises her hand as to stop questions while turning to Lazarus.
"Now, I say 'mirror image' as it doesn't exist the same way as our bodies does. While these spirits can influence the things we see they're ultimately an emanation of the concepts, physical or not, that they're based on. So destroying the spiritual representation of your rage wouldn't get rid of your rage the same way destroying the representation of your heart wouldn't destroy the heart or how you can't destroy your own mirror image. It would still be there the next time we look in another mirror. So the goal here wouldn't be to 'beat' you demons, it would be to bargain with them. Convince them to act in a different manner."
The satyr pauses for a moment and scratches her head. "I've never seen it done, but I suppose this could partly be done through violence but I'm not sure how effective that would be long-term."

[Rebonack]

[Wait, We Have a Science Division?]

Geneva nods along with Val. He seems... competent. In the general sense. As in he can accomplish things.

But Geneva doubts that his work would meet the rigor of proper laboratory safety AND his notes would probably be insufficient to replicate his work.

Maybe not irresponsible, as such.

"If it works against demons that would be a major breakthrough. The more tools we have at our disposal to thwart them the better," Geneva concludes. "Thank you for showing me some of your work, Val. I think it'll be and... adventure? helping each other with our respective projects."

Yeah.

An adventure.

"Well, I'm going to get back to my testing. I really want to hammer out the kinks in my personal short range teleporter UI. Making sure it's intuitive is VERY important. We wouldn't want someone teleporting inside a wall."

Definitely not.

That would be bad.


[Duck Tokens]

Anika provides some irresponsible advice to children!

"Okay Anika!" Lapis replies with a smile before holding out the duck token for the druid to take. "I spent a lot of time trying to catch that dumb boss bird today so I need to finish my chores. I was going to do the roses on the east side of the base today. If you find any duck merchants maybe you can tell me at dinner time?"

Lapis thinks that's a solid plan.


[The Battered Shield]

"I'm Lapis Lazuli!" Lapis cheerfully announces. "Gardening is really fun, I love it. But if any bad guys try coming to VIGIL I'll prune THEM too!"

Wow a joke!

...sort of?

Lapis is trying at least.

"YEAH! You guys should come to the Thanksmas party this year! My mom is having it at Trog's Tavern and some of my siblings are going to help with the decorations! You'll love it!"

She is one hundred percent convinced that the party will be the best Thanksmas party ever, since her mom is doing it.

"You can both try being Santa you just have to sit on the Santa throne and hold the Santa bag and give people gifts from it if they've been good."

And then more sword talk!

Lapis frowns.

"I... guess... training swords just don't feel like swords, though," Lapis replies. "They can't cut. Something isn't a sword if it can't EVER cut. It's just a thing that LOOKS like a sword."

[Gnrlshrimp]

[Battered Shield]

"Me, be the wolf-father? Hah!" Atreyu lets out a single, harsh, barking laugh, thoroughly amused by the notion.

It's quite loud.

Someone probably glares at him from the next table over.

"I reckon that could be fun. I'll have to keep an eye out fer that." He leans over and gives Anika a little nudge with his elbow. "Reckon it'd be much funnier seeing you with a beard on, though."

Oh dear, Lapis is still on about swords. "If it looks like a sword and handles like a sword, I reckon it's a sword." Atreyu remarks with a shrug of his shoulders. Swords aren't things he's ever really been into. "What defines a sword ain't its ability to cut. Some swords are made fer stabbin', after all." He's...not wrong, there.

[Lord Magtok]

The Saint, the Urchin and the Satyr

"So you want me to reason with my animalistic desire to crack all your ribs apart, suck out the marrow, and then rip out your heart and distend my jaw to swallow it whole," Jenette remarks skeptically, using those big fancy college words to drive her point home, with her arms still crossed against her chest. She shoots a worried glance towards Fidelia, wondering if she should ask her to leave for this. It all sounds terribly dangerous. I mean, we're talking about Jenette's personal demons. They're almost all centered around losing control and hurting everyone. Surely the spiritual equivalent will be just as terrifying and all-consuming.

[Shadowcaller]

[Duck Tokens

Irresponsible? Lapis is going to learn bad words at some points and she's going to use them in swears. That's just how it was. Trying to delay that as long as possible just seemed silly to Anika. In her opinion people had some pretty weird hangups about swears that she would never get.
They were really just angry words, what was so bad about that?

"Of course, Lapis. In fact, we should probably get some means to contact one another. You have one of those... VIGIL gizmos? Since then I'd be able to tell you as soon as I find someone to give tokens to. Keep in mind though, usually you need more than one token to get anything."

[Battered Shield]

Anika giggles loudly at that notion as Atreyu nudges her. "Maybe. Fake beards aren't nearly as good as the real stuff though."
Then she turns to Lapis as a big made about swords. "Guys, you should relax. Lapis is already awesome at her job. She doesn't even need a sword to deal with evil. The other day she caught a boss-bird all by herself despite being so young and even I couldn't do that." She taps the table thoughtfully. "But if you really want to go with a sword, Lapis. Maybe you should ask your parents or your sliblings? Since I recall you having a lot of those. One of them gotta be into swords if they're anything like you and they'd know how to best adapt them for you, Lapis."

[Arkhosia]

The Saint, the Urchin and the Satyr

"So you want me to reason with my animalistic desire to crack all your ribs apart, suck out the marrow, and then rip out your heart and distend my jaw to swallow it whole," Jenette remarks skeptically, using those big fancy college words to drive her point home, with her arms still crossed against her chest. She shoots a worried glance towards Fidelia, wondering if she should ask her to leave for this. It all sounds terribly dangerous. I mean, we're talking about Jenette's personal demons. They're almost all centered around losing control and hurting everyone. Surely the spiritual equivalent will be just as terrifying and all-consuming.

[The Battered Shield]

"No problem," says Kal, giving Blanche an easy smile. "I'm generally pretty happy to share a drink and talk for a while, no need to feel self conscious about it. Though, maybe I'm not quite sure what you have in mind."

The Saint, the Urchin and the Satyr - SUS Crew?

"...well, maybe we can convince it that, uh, not running rampant means the hunger gets maintained? I-instead of uh, getting stabbed and dying I guess?" Fidelia seems to be pretty dead-set on assisting somehow. Even if words are definitely not her strong suit. After all, if Jenette's gonna resort to stabbing Hunger to death, an extra blade doesn't hurt. And it sounds like it's more of an issue of not getting consumed by these personal demons than them taking Jenette over and turning her on her partner... right?

The Battered Shield

"Well, er, I dunno, I guess hanging out? Although, sharing a drink is sorta that, now that I think about it." The catgirl takes an awkward sip of her drink. She's had a fair bit of it by now. "I could give you advice at the shooting range sometime if you want, maybe. Be pretty interested in learning a few tricks about how to handle a knife from you sometime too, actually."

[Shadowcaller]

The Saint, the Urchin and the Satyr

Jaahlyn raises her index finger. "It might be easier than you think, sir Lazarus. The spirits I mentioned, they are so miniscule that they don't really have a mind at all until they're interacted with.

Once that happens they start to build up their personality, their whole being, based on the people that are communicating with it. But as this one is 'owned' by you, that's the only person it will be interested in. The way you act, the tone of your voice, every subtle gesture..."

The satyr taps her chin, seemingly considering something. "It will be like your child in a way. Trying to learn everything from its parent. Of course, it will also be consumed by the concept it's supposed to represent so it won't just be a copy of you.

Also taking influence from your conception of it. So, what you imagine it'd be like mixed in with your own your character traits, depending on how you act towards it. So what I'm saying is that you have a way to control what it will be like."

[Zefir]

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Sophia bows her head to Mia in receipt of her 'thank you'.
"I hope your church's decision goes well for you."

She lifts a hand to the edge of her hood, a bit taken aback.
"Are there any magical creatures you could get us? Or, there's this ancient crashed spaceship, maybe a mechanical expert could do something with?"

[Mia's Lab]

Mia nods in agreement. Then Sophia requests two very differetn things for her that makes Mia look a bit puzzeled.

"I'm not aware what creatures you would want, but I think i can't help you there anyway. The ship on the other hand is a differetn thing. As long as it's has an engine I can do something."

Mia tries to make things sound less promissing. After all it might be that this is demon tech which she never examined.

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[Wenomir's office - Mia]

Wenomir tilts his head. He's quite aware of Mia's capabilities, but there's something that confuses him here.

"What do you mean by something during the exercise?"

[Wenomir's office - Mia]

"You didn't notice?" Mia says and changes into a thinking pose, staring at nothing for a moment. "Well, the last spells she casted right when Electra was walking straight at her, it seemed to have no purpose. I'm not sure what it was, but it seems to have changed her. She immediatly went of, as if something bad might happen when she stays. I don't know what it is and I wouldn't want to find it out. Especially since I'm certain I caould do something against it."

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[The Battered Shield]

"I'm Lapis Lazuli!" Lapis cheerfully announces. "Gardening is really fun, I love it. But if any bad guys try coming to VIGIL I'll prune THEM too!"

Wow a joke!

...sort of?

Lapis is trying at least.

"YEAH! You guys should come to the Thanksmas party this year! My mom is having it at Trog's Tavern and some of my siblings are going to help with the decorations! You'll love it!"

She is one hundred percent convinced that the party will be the best Thanksmas party ever, since her mom is doing it.

"You can both try being Santa you just have to sit on the Santa throne and hold the Santa bag and give people gifts from it if they've been good."

And then more sword talk!

Lapis frowns.

"I... guess... training swords just don't feel like swords, though," Lapis replies. "They can't cut. Something isn't a sword if it can't EVER cut. It's just a thing that LOOKS like a sword."

[Battered Shield]

"Me, be the wolf-father? Hah!" Atreyu lets out a single, harsh, barking laugh, thoroughly amused by the notion.

It's quite loud.

Someone probably glares at him from the next table over.

"I reckon that could be fun. I'll have to keep an eye out fer that." He leans over and gives Anika a little nudge with his elbow. "Reckon it'd be much funnier seeing you with a beard on, though."

Oh dear, Lapis is still on about swords. "If it looks like a sword and handles like a sword, I reckon it's a sword." Atreyu remarks with a shrug of his shoulders. Swords aren't things he's ever really been into. "What defines a sword ain't its ability to cut. Some swords are made fer stabbin', after all." He's...not wrong, there.

[Battered Shield]

Anika giggles loudly at that notion as Atreyu nudges her. "Maybe. Fake beards aren't nearly as good as the real stuff though."
Then she turns to Lapis as a big made about swords. "Guys, you should relax. Lapis is already awesome at her job. She doesn't even need a sword to deal with evil. The other day she caught a boss-bird all by herself despite being so young and even I couldn't do that." She taps the table thoughtfully. "But if you really want to go with a sword, Lapis. Maybe you should ask your parents or your sliblings? Since I recall you having a lot of those. One of them gotta be into swords if they're anything like you and they'd know how to best adapt them for you, Lapis."

[Battered Shield]

Mia just appears to be rather confused about the whole sword thing. Lapis got something really rare, which is much better then a normal sword.

"I already considered visiting this years Thanksmas." she says and then she adds a bit quieter. "Even if it's only for the sweets." She could die for all the baked apple things.

[Recaiden]

Mia isn't making any promises.
On the plus side, it isn't demon technology that Sophia is talking about.
"It definitely had an engine. Hopefully there's still enough for you to work with."

"When you're ready to look into it, you can go to <location in the war-torn red zone by a certain brick wall> and one of my flight will escort you to the ship." There's no hurry, Sophia is saying. Also saying she won't be going to the ship herself. She has her own job to do!

[Rebonack]

[The Battered Shield]

Lapis is a child.

Don't expect child-reasoning to always make sense.

"My mom doesn't really do swords but I think my dad has some?" Lapis ponders aloud. "Maybe he has an old one I can have?"

She wouldn't mind a hand-me-down sword.

That would make it special.

She also puffs up with pride at the mention of the Boss Bird. She's really GOOD at bird catching.

"You should all DEFINITELY come to Thanksmas at Trog's this year! It'll be the best one ever," Lapis insists.

Technically Lapis hasn't ever been to one of the big Thanksmas parties before so this will be her first one and, by definition, the best.

"What kind of things do YOU want for Thanksmas, mister Atreyu?" Lapis asks. She is not so sneakily trying to come up with gift ideas.


[Duck Tokens]

"Yeah I've got one!" Lapis says, rolling up her sleeve and pointing out the little smartwatch looking device.

How come Lapis doesn't have any problems with that thing when she transforms? She turned into a tree earlier and didn't lose it.

Then disappointment!

"You mean I have to catch that dumb bird AGAIN?" she moans, a look of utter dread on her face. "But it was SO HARD to catch the first time!"

That's why the rewards you get for handing in a bunch of duck tokens are so cool, Lapis.

[Shadowcaller]

[Duck Tokens]

"Sweet, then your name is probably somewhere on that tiny list. Hecn't checked it in a while honestly as I had to turn it in for repair." Anika remarks as she peers down at the communicator.

Then she laugh as Lapis expresses her annoyance. "That's the point, they don't give out treasures for nothing. Never figured out what they use the tokens for but I think it's just like a proof you've done a great deed or something." She gestures at the duck. "So maybe you should put it up in your room? Like a trophy of sort. I have a lot of trophies like that."

[Morty]

[Wenomir's office - Mia]

Wenomir rubs the back of his neck. Once again, his lack of knowledge of magic comes to haunt him.

"Awen's magic does seem to be as dangerous to her as it is to others, sometimes. If you think you can help her deal with the consequences, don't hesitate to do it."

[Deathkeeper]

[What’s Up, Buttercup?]

No, really. What’s up with Buttercup? You don’t normally see weird young ladies just rolling around on Vigil’s lawn. Who let her in?
There’s a very shiny kobold in red shorts and a gleaming emerald medallion around his neck looking VERY perplexed at Buttercup. He’s got an awfully sharp looking blade on him too.
”Hello, Miss. I’m Spako. Who are you? Are you lost? This isn’t really the place for recreation.” He’s bemused but also more than a little confused.

[Rebonack]

[Duck Tokens]

"Okaaaay..." Lapis huffs. "I guess I'll put it in my room. But you tell me right away if you see any duck token merchants!"

This is important stuff Anika.

Failure is not an option.

Maybe she can try catching the boss bird again, too?

"Bye Anika! Thanks for helping!"

Off she goes!


[What’s Up, Buttercup?]

She's isn't rolling!

She's just...

Buttercup is flopping around on her back giggling and waving her legs in the air.

Okay yeah she's rolling.

Though when Spako speaks up her eyes WIDEN with excitement!

"SPAKO!" she sequels with glee as she...

Umm.

Okay she tried to kick herself upright but that didn't really work. It was a nice try, though? A little more leg flailing later she manages to get those hooves under herself and stand upright. She's leaning forward, gently biting her lip and bouncing with her fists balled. She's so excited! She's got grass and flowers all over her. Like... extra grass and flowers. From the rolling. Some of the foliage is hers.

"Wowie ZOWIE I'm sooooo glad it's you, Spako! I tried using the communicator but it kept going INVALID USER," she says, making a frowny grumpy not-helpful technology face. "It was really frustrating so I just came here instead but I had to go all the way through Inside and I think Intersection was setting up a quarantine and I had to sneak through and the sewers were really gross and there was a scary clown but I got out and started coming to VIGIL but then I saw a bunny on the way and it was just the cutest bunny I wanted to play with it so-WAIT NO!"

She screws her eyes shut and pulls on her ears.

"Focus Buttercup! Important! Super important! There's an apocalypse happening! Maybe two, I don't know?" she says, slowly opening her eyes and releasing her ears. "It's the Buttercups! They're Naming everyone Buttercup until it's nothing but Buttercups! They did it to me, too, but I had some of my armor with me and I think it made my brain not-so-fuzzy as the other Buttercups! And there's a devil queen too turning Buttercups into devils which I guess maybe isn't as immediately pressing but still pretty bad!"

Then?

Buttercup strikes a pose as NOBLE and HEROIC as she can possibly muster with her svelte cervine form!

"The Nexus needs HEROES Spako! For these people DEPRIVED of who they are there must be JUSTICE!" she declares as LOUDLY and as INSPIRATIONALLY as she can manage. She pounds one mailed fist into the palm of the other as her armor begins... sort of coming apart? Hundreds of tiny hexagonal disks, spreading and rearranging. Her padded under-armor spreads with it, protecting her skin from the touch of iron until she's shod from head to hoof in a suit of familiar cobalt-blue full plate with a prominent wing motif.

"Vigil MUST know! This FOUL EVIL can NOT be left unanswered!"

Oh.

Oh no...

It was a couple years ago that Sir Rebonack found a cure to that horrible curse that had befallen him. Maybe not a prominent Vigil member, but around. The one who had encouraged Spako to join in the first place. He must have been Inside when the Buttercupolocypse started.

[Deathkeeper]

[What's up, Buttercup?]

Spako is worried. Then terrified. And then horrified.
"S-Sir Rebo?" did he get cursed again? Apsu's Gix, Spako was going to have him meet the hatchlings, too! But this is no time for personal problems.
"Okay, Sir Rebo. Whatever you do keep your armor on. If it's helping you don't take it off. Secondly...well, I'm going to have to ask you to quarantine in your room. That's not to say that you can't help us with advising. But if the Buttercups are making more Buttercups and you're a Buttercup I can't risk you infecting anyone else. Please understand."

[Rebonack]

[What's up, Buttercup?]

Buttercup nods enthusiastically!

"Yeah! It's me, Spako, Buttercup!"

A beat.

"No, not Buttercup. BUTTERCUP!"

It is pretty clear that she's frustrated here. Really, anyone would be. Assuming they weren't utterly terrified. But getting Buttercuped seems to prevent that from happening.

And then?

There's probably a pouty look from inside that armor.

"Aaww... but I wanted to help! Are you sure I can't-"

She shakes her head again.

"No. No, you're right. In this WRETCHED STATE I am potentially a DANGER TO OTHERS. I believe the iron armor prevents me from employing VILE FAERIE MAGICS but I am not wholly certain. You should escort me to my quarters to ensure my safe arrival. I have found myself... distractable."

She would really like to do some more frolicking right now.

[Deathkeeper]

[[What's up, Buttercup?]

"Don't be upset, Sir Rebo. Fairies are tricksy business. You'll be okay in your room until we have something for you. I'm sure you can distract yourself."

Spako gently takes Buttercup's gauntleted hand to lead her to the barracks.
"Alright Sir Rebo. Tell me one thing. Can you remember exactly what happened when they Named you Buttercup?" Before he calls it in Spako needs to know how these horrible creatures cursed his friend!
...on the plus side, if wearing metal keeps Sir Rebo from infecting anyone, he's no worse off physically than he was as a slime in a suit of armor. He can still talk and help, they just need to get this horrible magic out of his mind. Surely that's something they can do. Wait-
"Uh, do you want me to call you by your old Name or your new Name? Would you rather me refer to you by 'she?'" This might be a terrible situation but...he doesn't want to upset his friend with identification issues.

[Rebonack]

[What's up, Buttercup?]

"Damnation. Being unable to help directly VEXES me so. One as NOBLE and DARING as myself isn't meant for the sidelines. I- Wowie! Those butterflies are pretty! Hehehe!"

Buttercup tries wandering off as two large yellow and black striped butterflies flutter past, but thankfully Spako is able to keep her on task.

"Aaww... bye butterfly friends!"

Sir Rebonack is probably going to be really embarrassed about this later once he's Sir Rebonack again.

"Well... things had been pretty peaceful lately... so I decided to help at one of Inside's community gardens to get ready for the Spooktober festival," Buttercup recounts. She DOES like doing community service when not on otherwise dangerous missions to RIGHT INJUSTICE and RESCUE THE INNOCENT. "And then a friend named Buttercup came over and she called me Buttercup and we got to talking and she called me Buttercup again and we kept talking and then she called me Buttercup AGAIN and I was Buttercup-shaped! There was a girl who could turn into a dragon with her. Then we did some frolicking together and she left to go make more friends named Buttercup. And... well... I thought that sounded like maybe a mean idea so I stayed behind and finished the garden work."

Buttercup frowns as they approach her quarters.

"Then I went home. I had my armor there, all put together. And it wasn't Buttercup-shaped AT ALL. And thinking about that made my thoughts all fuzzy and I realized something bad was happening so I tried calling VIGIL but that didn't work so I came here instead and frolicked some more! Frolicking is a lot more fun if you do it with someone else."

Very true. Frolicking alone is okay but frolicking with friends is the BEST!

"Oh! I like it when you call my Buttercup, it makes my thinky-thoughts less fizzy."

A beat.

"No, I mean when you call me Buttercup."

A hoof-stomp of frustration.

"Yowie zowie, you know what I mean!"

[Deathkeeper]

[What's up, Buttercup?]

Spako's heart very nearly stops for a moment. But then he remembers that Lucy would never make it clear to anyone that she's connected to Sylvess. Until cornered she's just an elf. Sylvess is still safe with the eggs.
"Okay, Sir Rebo. I know it hurts. But you really have to stay here for a while. Play a game or something while you're in there. I'll come speak to you through the door once I warn everyone to keep you company."
Spako will do his best to shove his hapless friend into the room and shut the door behind him. And stick a rune-lock on the door, too. Luckily with Sir Rebo's new cervine hindquarters, escaping through the window will be significantly harder.
Emergency channel

Hello, Spako Highclaws here. Inside is experiencing another contagion. Cervine-humanoid hybrids going by the name Buttercup are in the city. Being called by that name spreads the curse to others, converting them. Sir Rebonack has been compromised to bring us that information. He is currently quarantined in his room. He claims that wearing his armor kept him from wanting to spread the curse. I would recommend coordinating with Intersection and otherwise keeping clear of the city until we know exactly how this curse works. Are any of the Commanders on this channel?

[Zefir]

Mia isn't making any promises.
On the plus side, it isn't demon technology that Sophia is talking about.
"It definitely had an engine. Hopefully there's still enough for you to work with."

"When you're ready to look into it, you can go to <location in the war-torn red zone by a certain brick wall> and one of my flight will escort you to the ship." There's no hurry, Sophia is saying. Also saying she won't be going to the ship herself. She has her own job to do!

[Mia's Lab]

"I just need to gab a bunch of stuff, just to be prepared. Just tell him to be visible when he sees the shuttle." Mia doesn't question that Sophia won't come. After all she is leading a group of her kind? I don't think Mia knows all the details, but there are more Demons who are like Sophia.

After half an hour she will be ready to go and depart, assuming Sophia left a while ago she heads for said location.

[Wenomir's office - Mia]

Wenomir rubs the back of his neck. Once again, his lack of knowledge of magic comes to haunt him.

"Awen's magic does seem to be as dangerous to her as it is to others, sometimes. If you think you can help her deal with the consequences, don't hesitate to do it."

[Wenomir's office - Mia]

"I think this kind of magic is called 'blood magic'.At least that's what it was called were i am from. You take your blood or other peoples blood to feed your spells. I think in that way it does use life energy instead of mana, but I wouldn't guarantee this unless I asked wen about it." Mia replies. She does sound like a teacher while telling Wenomir this. He might notice the difference from when they train and she is the student to now were she seems to teach him. "As mentioned, you might help me convince Electra in that matter. The others also seemed to dislike me, but I hope they won't push this futher when she agrees to take me along.

[Lord Magtok]

Steel and Satyrs, Mastering Mind Monsters

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The Saint, the Urchin and the Satyr - SUS Crew?

"...well, maybe we can convince it that, uh, not running rampant means the hunger gets maintained? I-instead of uh, getting stabbed and dying I guess?" Fidelia seems to be pretty dead-set on assisting somehow. Even if words are definitely not her strong suit. After all, if Jenette's gonna resort to stabbing Hunger to death, an extra blade doesn't hurt. And it sounds like it's more of an issue of not getting consumed by these personal demons than them taking Jenette over and turning her on her partner... right?

The Saint, the Urchin and the Satyr

Jaahlyn raises her index finger. "It might be easier than you think, sir Lazarus. The spirits I mentioned, they are so miniscule that they don't really have a mind at all until they're interacted with.

Once that happens they start to build up their personality, their whole being, based on the people that are communicating with it. But as this one is 'owned' by you, that's the only person it will be interested in. The way you act, the tone of your voice, every subtle gesture..."

The satyr taps her chin, seemingly considering something. "It will be like your child in a way. Trying to learn everything from its parent. Of course, it will also be consumed by the concept it's supposed to represent so it won't just be a copy of you.

Also taking influence from your conception of it. So, what you imagine it'd be like mixed in with your own your character traits, depending on how you act towards it. So what I'm saying is that you have a way to control what it will be like."

Jenette frowns again. Dealing with tiny psychotic children isn’t quite as deadly as what she envisioned, but it’s not really her area of expertise, either. She supposed Fidelia would actually be really helpful there, if her time spent at the Mithar Keep around Cessie’s kids have taught her anything.

”So the worst thing I can do is treat it like a serious threat, because then it’ll become one. I should be handling this like we’re just disciplining a weird, magical baby. Okay,” Saint Lazarus nods, trying to project confidence and completely unwarranted optimism. Gotta fake it until you make it, or die trying.

[Gnrlshrimp]

[The Battered Shield]

What does Atreyu want for Thanksmas?

Well...

"I reckon Mia's got the right of it. Sweets sound good. An' I'm sure there's plenty of fine new things fer me to taste here that I ain't familiar with."

New place, new food, new treats.

He looks slyly back and forth.

He leans in real close to Lapis.

He is not being subtle whatsoever.

And then in his best stage-whisper he says, "And I reckon a bottle of beard-tonic wouldn't go amiss fer me to use on Anika, since she's so keen on a real beard!"

[Recaiden]

[Mia's Lab]

"I just need to gab a bunch of stuff, just to be prepared. Just tell him to be visible when he sees the shuttle." Mia doesn't question that Sophia won't come. After all she is leading a group of her kind? I don't think Mia knows all the details, but there are more Demons who are like Sophia.

After half an hour she will be ready to go and depart, assuming Sophia left a while ago she heads for said location.

That's more or less right. Sophia doesn't exactly lead them, most of the time, but is very busy giving advice to these odd demons. She is their expert on human affairs and coordinating with individuals.

Well, in half an hour Sophia seems to be gone. Whether she actually left or is just invisible is not super-clear.
Said location can be found here.

[Morty]

[Wenomir's office - Mia]

Right. Fuelling your magic with blood... there's absolutely no way for it to go wrong, is there? He probably shouldn't be telling Awen how to use her magic, though...

"As I said, the decision of who we send to fight is mine or Cessie's. But I doubt Electra will question our judgment in any event. This thread is too severe to let personal conflict get in the way."

[Arkhosia]

Satyr and Steele, Attorneys at Law

"I guess it's all about willpower, huh?" There's a beat before Fidelia thinks to elaborate. "I mean, um, you're safe as long as you can believe you can overcome it. Maintain that the hunger is... beneath you, or uh, that you're stronger. Long as you believe it, it's true." Doesn't sound like too much of a difficult solution. At least on paper, so to speak.

And then, another thought occurs. …hey, uh- if we're in the dream world, does that mean- can Jenette still infect me even if she's overcome and tries to bite me or something?" She sounds... weirdly hopeful when she asks this.

[Shadowcaller]

Satyr and Steele, Attorneys at Law

"Yeah, that's the gist of it." The satyr nods, glad that they got it this quickly. Usually it was a lot harder to explain. "But you're not actually in a different world. It's more like... well, there's two ways to do this." She raises two fingers. "Either you do it in a dream or while awake. Either method has its complications. The dream method involve me visiting both your dreams and bringing you together, which would have me getting sneak peeks into your minds. Not to mention that your own dreams could complicate things."
Jaahlyn scratches her head and then suddenly smiles.

"The second method, well... it involves drugs. You would be hallucinating the spirits essentially. With the right drug it would be a lot cleaner and direct of a method. See, warlocks have grown these drugs that allows them to do this while causing them little harm in the process. It's rare to come by outside their circles but I have some with me if you're willing to take my word for it. I know that's asking a lot though so I will leave it up to you." Jaahlyn then turns to Fidelia. "As for the potential of infection, it depends on if its a dream or a hallucination of course." She makes another bow as she finishes her explanation.

[The Battered Shield]

"I wouldn't miss that for the world, Lapis." Anika remarks with a nod. "And we'll get Rain onboard too and I bet she could make a thankmas song for you guys." A beat.

"Oh! Idea! You got a lot of friends your age don't you, Lapis? What if you recruit them and you can sing thankmas songs together, like a choir. That'd be so awesome. Don't you agree, guys?" She looks to the others.

[Ashen Lilies]

The Battered Shield

"Well, er, I dunno, I guess hanging out? Although, sharing a drink is sorta that, now that I think about it." The catgirl takes an awkward sip of her drink. She's had a fair bit of it by now. "I could give you advice at the shooting range sometime if you want, maybe. Be pretty interested in learning a few tricks about how to handle a knife from you sometime too, actually."

[The Battered Shield]

"It's a trade," says Kal, smiling slightly. "I believe I've fired a gun once or twice, but I wouldn't say that I'm an especially great shot."

[Zefir]

[The Battered Shield]

Mia nods. "That sounds nice. I don't know much chrismas songs other those who play in the radio up and down here.
But I wonder why in the nexus you got the throne and not a single person."

[Wenomir's office - Mia]

Right. Fuelling your magic with blood... there's absolutely no way for it to go wrong, is there? He probably shouldn't be telling Awen how to use her magic, though...

"As I said, the decision of who we send to fight is mine or Cessie's. But I doubt Electra will question our judgment in any event. This thread is too severe to let personal conflict get in the way."

[Wenomir's office - Mia]

Mia just nods. "If this is the case things should be fine. Just tell me when things are done." she akes a short pause befor speaking up again.
"If there is anything I can help you with just tell me."

[Lord Magtok]

Satyr and Steele, Attorneys at Law

"As for the potential of infection, it depends on if its a dream or a hallucination of course." She makes another bow as she finishes her explanation.

"The one with less risk of that, then," Jenette answers immediately, without so much as a second thought. If the drugs have a chance of making her go permanently braindead, fine. If the dream route will reveal embarrassing childhood memories, who cares. This isn't worth doing if it gets Fidelia killed (and possibly brought back as a walking corpse). Nothing is.