Planeside 3

[Recaiden]

Oh. It's not moving.
Well, Kiun thinks to herself, her flight-sister would tell her that you have to follow through on your threats, or no one will listen to them.

So, with no one trying to hit her with a lamp or anything for the moment, she carries out some magic.
A cloud of darkness descends on the Hand of Justice, bitingly cold, seemingly hungry for light and warmth. Then, a wave of force coming diagonally upward, to heave the creature away from the door.

[Earl of Purple]

Prison Realm

Neither the darkness nor the cold seems to affect the Hand, the former of which is probably expected- it doesn't have any visible eyes. The force, however, works, and the guard-beast is thrown up into the air and flails as they fly, and then reach the top, and start to fall. Was Kiun aiming to throw them off the walkway? Because it doesn't seem able to control its fall, so it can't change any momentum to hit the walkway if Kiun deliberately aimed it off the path and into the void.

[bc56]

Scorching Depths
"Can you find him again? I'd rather not have him wandering unsupervised; not after he brought the twins here." Sekhmet and Braon are the only two locals who know the identities of the monsters going around killing succubi, but it wouldn't be a bad bet that the Letheans who were formerly their travelling companions also know.

[Recaiden]

[Prison Realm]

Neither the darkness nor the cold seems to affect the Hand, the former of which is probably expected- it doesn't have any visible eyes. The force, however, works, and the guard-beast is thrown up into the air and flails as they fly, and then reach the top, and start to fall. Was Kiun aiming to throw them off the walkway? Because it doesn't seem able to control its fall, so it can't change any momentum to hit the walkway if Kiun deliberately aimed it off the path and into the void.

Her goal was just to get it away from the door, so she could open it again. It would have been hard to angle the Hand off the walkway entirely, with the Skull's cell in the way.
But now that the hand-dog is flying through the air, Kiun can give it another little push to send it towardd the void.
She does that.

[Earl of Purple]

Prison Realm

The Hand of Justice is sent flying off the walkway, and disappears.

The cell door is still closed, but Kiun can go and open it again. If she does, the skull will hover out and join her. Do you know which direction you came from? I was brought here in a sealed box, and did not see which way I went. There will almost certainly be more guards elsewhere, shortly before the exit.

[Recaiden]

She does.
"That way." Kiun points her tail in the direction she came.

"Two guards, with weapons, went there earlier."

[Earl of Purple]

Prison Realm

I saw those, I mean others. We should leave, before those ones come back. Any prisoners that way? The skull is still talking using Kiun's reflection, which means it has to float in front of her to speak. It's going backwards, but given that it's flying on a straight path and there's no obstacles it's not going to hit anything.

[Ironsmith]

[Brefaisil]

Interesting. If true, that narrows the pool of suspects considerably...

Fare as well as you can. Given the man's poor circumstances.

Marcie takes a moment to step out on the balcony and address the sky, speaking almost in another voice.
"This is the leader of your church, Absum? Is he really the best this place has?"

They don't expect an answer, though.
Next is to head in and ask directions to the Lords and Ladies within the city.

[Brefaisil]

Thunder rolls plaintively in the distance, seemingly in response to Marcie's question, but she doesn't get a direct reply. Figures.

Breonite will tell Marcie where she can find the Lords and Lady, and any given guard can verify the information.

Lord Gryffaf is spearheading the tunnel project, working personally with the miners down the newest branch in the network. Marcie will be warned that moroi are everywhere down there, and to not go at all without either an escort or a reliable source of illumination.

Lady Fraochun is... difficult to find. She's definitely in Brefaisil somewhere, but her presence isn't exactly welcome, so she doesn't have official quarters or anything and stays well away from the more secure parts of the city. Tracking her down will likely involve going to some seedy places.

Lord Alun is the most straightforward of the three, serving as temporary head of Brefaisil's garrison. "Temporary" in a nominal sense; the official head has turned to a moroi and may be beyond recovery, but if he ever does come back, Alun is expected to relinquish the position. Marcie will face a relatively mundane but potent obstacle in engaging with him; he is a very busy man and she's not likely to get more than a few minutes of his time, messenger from the goddess or not.

Who does Marcie pursue?

Scorching Depths
"Can you find him again? I'd rather not have him wandering unsupervised; not after he brought the twins here." Sekhmet and Braon are the only two locals who know the identities of the monsters going around killing succubi, but it wouldn't be a bad bet that the Letheans who were formerly their travelling companions also know.

[Scorching Depths]

"And when I find him? What then?" Braon asks. "Send him back to his room? That doesn't seem like that would accomplish much. For that matter, why are we still harboring any of them? They brought the killers with them. We should boot them out and see if they follow."

[Recaiden]

[Prison Realm]

"Two prisoners that way, one that way." Kiun reports.
She moves to follow the skull, walking quickly.

[Brefaisil]

Best to start with Lord Alun - that seems like the safest bet, even if he won't be able to do very much. Just follow the queen's directions (to a garrison building?), explain, and hope he can talk quickly.

[bc56]

Scorching Depths
"Follow him, see what he's up to?" Sekhmet responds, as if that was obvious. In response to the second question, she adds, "I don't think they would leave if their fellows did. They're predators; they've found a good hunting ground."

[Ironsmith]

[Brefaisil]

Best to start with Lord Alun - that seems like the safest bet, even if he won't be able to do very much. Just follow the queen's directions (to a garrison building?), explain, and hope he can talk quickly.

[Brefaisil]

Like most places in Brefaisil, the garrison isn't so much a building as it is a series of rooms cut from rock. The main entrance, attended by a pair of bored-looking goat-men in shabby leather armor, consists of a large set of double doors, about five meters high and half as wide, with a burnt wood image of a pair of soldiers; the one on the left kneeling and offering his hand to a small, crying child, and the one on the left with her sword raised against a bloodthirsty beast. When Marcie approaches, the sentries push open the door for her; given its size, that amounts to a little more than a convenience. "Ma'am." One of them greets with a nod.

The interior consists of a short hallway, with a few more doors along either side, and another large set of doors (thankfully already open) at the far end, leading into a large, semicircular chamber filled with desks. The room is a flurry of activity, with various inhuman-looking strigoi working feverishly at their desks, armed soldiers escorting various presumed ne'er-do-wells in shackles back and forth, many of them disappearing through an iron gate near the back of the room and returning unaccompanied. An eight-foot tall wickery man stands rather prominently among them, barking out orders and demands to his troops; Alun Steelflanks, presumably. He doesn't seem to have noticed Marcie's entrance yet.

Scorching Depths
"Follow him, see what he's up to?" Sekhmet responds, as if that was obvious. In response to the second question, she adds, "I don't think they would leave if their fellows did. They're predators; they've found a good hunting ground."

[Scorching Depths]

Braon sighs and shakes her head. "...Fine. I'll see if I can track him down." She turns to go, but decides there's still one other matter of business to attend to.

"...They really do think of you that way, you know." She grumbles spitefully. "'Not one of us'. You know that can't be good for your long-term prospects around here, right?"

[bc56]

Scorching Depths
"They'd better get used to it," Sekhmet answers, "Because I'm not like them and I, uh, don't intend to leave anytime soon. I won't become a succubus, Braon. You saw how that went."

[Ironsmith]

[Scorching Depths]

"Yeah, I know. Real scary stuff. F-"

The succubus sneezes again, loudly sniffling as she tries to clear ash particulates from her nose.

"-that very much. But you're talking about, again, more subjects than any mortal's ever had to deal with. You really think you can just take a hard stance against all of them like that? When you don't have much more than their grudging respect?" The fiendling scowls. "Ten out of ten for sheer ballsiness, but minus a few hundred for practicality."

[Recaiden]

Huh. Well, Marcie particularly is no stranger to semi-underground military buildings. Still doesn't like it, though.
And what's with the extremely huge door?

She thanks the door-guard and heads inside.
This place is actually reassuring to see, all these (admittedly cursed) people at work.

"Lord Steelflanks, a moment of your time!?"
"I've come from another world to save Maesda, the queen sent me to you, and I have a few questions."

[bc56]

Scorching Depths
"I already let them do all the... You know... They want, uh, as long as it doesn't interfere with their other duties. What more do you want from me? I'm not joining in, I'm a married woman for crying out loud!" Sekhmet is getting frustrated with this conversation. If Braon is making a point, she'd better get to it quickly before Sekhmet gets too fed up with this.

[Ironsmith]

Huh. Well, Marcie particularly is no stranger to semi-underground military buildings. Still doesn't like it, though.
And what's with the extremely huge door?

She thanks the door-guard and heads inside.
This place is actually reassuring to see, all these (admittedly cursed) people at work.

"Lord Steelflanks, a moment of your time!?"
"I've come from another world to save Maesda, the queen sent me to you, and I have a few questions."

[Brefaisil]

Alun barely spares her a sideways glance at first, more focused on the pair of soldiers he's berating at the moment. "I've given you three bloody weeks to catch this ripper, and that's all you've got for me? Empty leads and more heartless bodies?"

"Sir, we're working as dilligently as we can, it's-"

Alun stoops to look them in the eye. "You and everyone else in this room." He growls. "Get your collective arses in gear and bring him in."

There's a brief pause while he glowers at them.

"...Are you waiting for an invitation?"

"No sir!" They declare, stumbling over each other as they hastily make their exit.

Alun sighs and turns his attention to Marcie. "Now, why are you here?" He grumbles.

"Saving the world, sir." A goat-man at a nearby desk volunteers.

Alun frowns and puts the back of his hand against Marcie's forehead. "Damn physicians keep sending us these loons. Can't keep locking 'em up, we don't have room... hrmphm" He grumbles to himself. "When was the last time you ate, lady?" He asks, in a comparatively gentle voice.

Scorching Depths
"I already let them do all the... You know... They want, uh, as long as it doesn't interfere with their other duties. What more do you want from me? I'm not joining in, I'm a married woman for crying out loud!" Sekhmet is getting frustrated with this conversation. If Braon is making a point, she'd better get to it quickly before Sekhmet gets too fed up with this.

[Scorching Depths]

"That's barely anything. You're not being a queen to them in any way, you're just stepping back and letting them-"

"Ha-choo!"

"-whenever they want. You want a medal for doing absolutely nothing?" Braon crosses her arms and scowls, that presumed attitude reminding her of two of her deadbeat uncles, who disgusted her.

Then she sighs and lowers her arms. "Look. I know we don't get along great now, but... it used to be so much worse, didn't it? You know what changed?" She points to her temple emphatically. "You took a little time to actually get to know me. And then you helped me. You didn't try to be like me, thank Adea. But you stopped being this impersonal lady of high standing who only ever showed her face when it'd make my life more-"

"Ha-shoo! *sniff*"

"-ing miserable." Braon turns to the succubus and tosses her a little silver trinket. "Thanks Bonnie, I think we're good now."

The succubus sniffles, takes the trinket, and walks away.

"...Do you see what I'm getting at at all?" Braon prompts.

[Recaiden]

"I ate this morning." Marcie explains. Her temperature feels normal (which might or might not be weird here?).
Hmm, maybe she can keep the conversation moving and avoid too much distraction?

She holds up a hand with one finger extended.
"Approximately how many people are in the city?"

A second finger
"Would it be possible for your troops to secure the roads to the northwest in any meaningful way?"

And a third.
"Which lord and ladies do you know of that have died or disappeared since all this started?"

[bc56]

Scorching Depths
"You want me to get to know them? Their idea of getting to know someone is... Well, you know." Braon has definitely benefited from that tendency since she's been here. "I don't know what, uh, you're trying to tell me to do, and I'm not sure it would help."

[Ironsmith]

"I ate this morning." Marcie explains. Her temperature feels normal (which might or might not be weird here?).
Hmm, maybe she can keep the conversation moving and avoid too much distraction?

She holds up a hand with one finger extended.
"Approximately how many people are in the city?"

A second finger
"Would it be possible for your troops to secure the roads to the northwest in any meaningful way?"

And a third.
"Which lord and ladies do you know of that have died or disappeared since all this started?"

[Brefaisil]

"Hrm. Burning up." Alun mutters, patting down the sides of her face. He shakes his head, momentarily indulging Marcie while he gestures to one of his assistants. "Go find a volunteer feeder. She's clearly lost cohesion."

The assistant nods and runs off to carry out hia boss's orders.

"Now, let me see..." Alun continues examining Marcie. "We have near fourteen thousand people in Brefaisil, as of last census. Many Lords and Ladies have disappeared since the curse fell... Lord Maldwyn of the Bridge, Lady Rhiamon Silksteel, Lord Braeg Bastardsire, Lady Skuld Dragonbane, Lady Rhosyn Greenhaven... the list goes on." He shakes his head. "And we can spare no-one to leave the city. We can not guard the roads in or out. Ah, there we are."

His assistant has returned, holding a chalice full of thick, warm blood, which Alun passes on to Marcie.

"There you go, miss. Drink up, feel better soon and all of that."

Scorching Depths
"You want me to get to know them? Their idea of getting to know someone is... Well, you know." Braon has definitely benefited from that tendency since she's been here. "I don't know what, uh, you're trying to tell me to do, and I'm not sure it would help."

[Scorching Depths]

"At least try." Braon scolds. "In all the time you've been queen, how many times have you actually gone out and even talked with these ladies?" She frowns at Sekhmet disapprovingly, reversing their usual dynamic. "Maybe you don't want to sleep around. Fine. I can't say I get that, but you do you. But for Adea's sake, don't you think you could at least invite a few to lunch every couple weeks or something?"

[Recaiden]

Okay, that's a good number of people. Not too few, not too many.
The road situation is about what she expected.
More missing lords than they'd hoped, though. At least they can account for one of them.

"Thank you, sir. Did you, by any chance, personally offend Absum and - oh, no, you need this more than I do." Marcie says, waving off the blood with a polite motion.
"I'm *cough* perfectly healthy, curse-wise."

"Now, would you say it's true that Lords and Ladies are never suicidal or out of control?"

[bc56]

Scorching Depths
Sekhmet's not sure what to think about that suggestion. Braon's frustratingly right, again. She hasn't really had any social contact with any of her fiendish subjects, but especially not the succubi that were around since her mother was around. "I'll think about it. Uh, go find out what that incubus is doing and I'll, uh, have an answer by the time you get back."

[Ironsmith]

Okay, that's a good number of people. Not too few, not too many.
The road situation is about what she expected.
More missing lords than they'd hoped, though. At least they can account for one of them.

"Thank you, sir. Did you, by any chance, personally offend Absum and - oh, no, you need this more than I do." Marcie says, waving off the blood with a polite motion.
"I'm *cough* perfectly healthy, curse-wise."

"Now, would you say it's true that Lords and Ladies are never suicidal or out of control?"

[Brefaisil]

Alun frowns when Marcie tries to wave the drink away and rather forcefully shoves it into her hands, tilting it and prompting her to drink. Apparently, he does not believe her claim of being perfectly healthy... or for that matter, sane. The growing asininity of her questions (from his perspective) seemed to only reinforce the notion that she, a less-than-healthy strigoi, had not eaten and was suffering the deleterious effects of such.

"...Say, boss, that is a fair question. Have you ever known any suicidal Lords?"

Alun gives him and Marcie alternating glowers. "That depends on whether I'm counting myself." He grumbles, turning to go. "Keep an eye on this one. If she refuses to eat, put her in lockup. We don't need another moroi out in the streets."

Scorching Depths
Sekhmet's not sure what to think about that suggestion. Braon's frustratingly right, again. She hasn't really had any social contact with any of her fiendish subjects, but especially not the succubi that were around since her mother was around. "I'll think about it. Uh, go find out what that incubus is doing and I'll, uh, have an answer by the time you get back."

[Scorching Depths]

"It shouldn't take you that long to figure out, highness." Braon smirks, turning once again to leave, cloak swishing dramatically behind her.

...Braon never does find Aggravate. The next news Sekhmet recieves on the subject will be from the palace guards: they caught the monsters!

Well, one of them. He's being held for questioning. And whatever punishment Sekhmet deems appropriate.

[bc56]

Scorching Depths
If one of the monsters is caught, that could be very good news.
Or overeager guards. She'll see for herself. Hopefully they have some very good chains. She doesn't want this thing going on a rampage and melting more succubi.

[Recaiden]

"If you insist..." Marcie takes the chalice and carefully brings it to her lips, which prompts another bit of coughing.

"Anyway, my thanks, Sir Alun, you have greatly clarified the situation. I'll let you get back to your work." He seems to have a lot of it.
She turns to the guard that spoke up.
"Could you direct me to some of Absum's clergy, by any chance?"

Finding the other two Lords mentioned each has a bit of risk, but maybe following up on this will be easy?
Probably not.

[Ironsmith]

Scorching Depths
If one of the monsters is caught, that could be very good news.
Or overeager guards. She'll see for herself. Hopefully they have some very good chains. She doesn't want this thing going on a rampage and melting more succubi.

[Scorching Depths]

Thankfully, the guards thought of that, too. When Sekhmet arrives, they have the besuited demon bound with his hands spread out past his sides, a series of steel rods holding his fingers open and preventing him fom cutting at his chains. Loose links and droplets of molten steel litter the floor from failed attempts, and Sekhmet will be able to see a few now-established funeral bottles where some of her guards suffered the same fate.

The demon's wings fold around it, and the hollow suit is replaced by a handsome man in a tuxedo, who gives Sekhmet a wicked smile. "Good evening, your highness." He croons. "Come to see me off personally?"

"If you insist..." Marcie takes the chalice and carefully brings it to her lips, which prompts another bit of coughing.

"Anyway, my thanks, Sir Alun, you have greatly clarified the situation. I'll let you get back to your work." He seems to have a lot of it.
She turns to the guard that spoke up.
"Could you direct me to some of Absum's clergy, by any chance?"

Finding the other two Lords mentioned each has a bit of risk, but maybe following up on this will be easy?
Probably not.

[Brefaisil]

"There's a chapel two flights down. When you're out of the garrison, take a left, keep going until you hit an overlook, look to your right, there should be a set of stairs there. Go down, turn right, and keep going until you're just outside the observation tower. It'll be the gilded door on your right. Are you going to finish that?" The guard inquires, pointing at Marcie's chalice.

[bc56]

Scorching Depths
"A few questions first," Sekhmet begins. She's glad to see she was right about the identities of the killers. She turns to one of the guards, "Bring our Lethean guests here. I have questions for them." She returns to focusing on the imprisoned demon. "You are Lethean, are you not? And am I speaking to Slicer or Spicer?" With those two sentences, she should have made it clear that she holds all the cards.

[Ironsmith]

[Scorching Depths]

The demon's smile falters briefly as the implications of these questions sink in. Then it disappears entirely as the serial succubi slasher scowls at her. "How do you... gragh!" He struggles futilely against his bonds for a moment. "One of those little harlots told you, didn't they? I knew we should have gutted them when we had the chance. That's what I said to Spicer, I said 'Spicer, we should melt these floozies down for parts and find someone who knows where the damned portal is'."

[Recaiden]

[Brefaisil]

"There's a chapel two flights down. When you're out of the garrison, take a left, keep going until you hit an overlook, look to your right, there should be a set of stairs there. Go down, turn right, and keep going until you're just outside the observation tower. It'll be the gilded door on your right. Are you going to finish that?" The guard inquires, pointing at Marcie's chalice.

Two flights, left, overlook, right, stairs, right, tower, right. Got it.

"Ah, thank you. Ahm..."
Marcie glances around to makes sure the Lord isn't still watching her on her way out - he must be too busy for that, right? - and then offers the guard the chalice.

[bc56]

Scorching Depths
"Those floozies are under my protection. You are not helping your case." Sekhmet glowers at the demon. "You and your friend have managed to murder..." Sekhmet counts the new bottles, "...Seven of my subjects. I should have you put down like the sick dog you are." Sekhmet's bluffing. She doesn't know how to permanently kill a demon (she knows her mother frequently did it, but not how she did it). "But first I want to question your travelling companions."

[Ironsmith]

[Brefaisil]

Two flights, left, overlook, right, stairs, right, tower, right. Got it.

"Ah, thank you. Ahm..."
Marcie glances around to makes sure the Lord isn't still watching her on her way out - he must be too busy for that, right? - and then offers the guard the chalice.

[Brefaisil]

Thankfully, Alun doesn't seem to notice the handoff. The guard accepts the chalice and eagerly guzzles it, draining the cup in a matter of seconds. Guy probably skipped breakfast or something.

If Marcie follows his directions, she'll eventually find herself at the aforementioned chapel; a large rectangular chamber, lined with wooden benches bearing comfortable-looking velvet cushions. The front of the room is mostly on a raised dais, which has a rectangular altar bearing a pair of candles on it, one lit, the other not. Behind that are a pair of statues; the one on the left depicts a well-muscled man with a beard of epic proportions, bringing down a hammer on to an anvil. The one on the right depicts an elderly woman in a modest robe kneeling and cupping a sprout in her hand, smiling at it encouragingly.

Off to one side, a gaggle of robed figures stand, holding open leatherbound books, their voices ringing out in an unintelligible song. They haven't noticed Marcie yet.

Scorching Depths
"Those floozies are under my protection. You are not helping your case." Sekhmet glowers at the demon. "You and your friend have managed to murder..." Sekhmet counts the new bottles, "...Seven of my subjects. I should have you put down like the sick dog you are." Sekhmet's bluffing. She doesn't know how to permanently kill a demon (she knows her mother frequently did it, but not how she did it). "But first I want to question your travelling companions."

[Scorching Depths]

Slicer breaks out into giggle fits. "Mmm... oh, I know." The demon moans, in a way that's clearly intended to make Sekhmet incredibly uncomfortable. "I bet you're looking forward to it yourself, aren't you? Not everyone has the stomach for mulching." He rattles his chains, prompting the nearby guards to point their weapons at him. "The breaking down of souls into those delectable little morsels... love, hate, pain, fear, joy, sorrow, despair, lust..." He looks at Sekhmet meaningfully as he says it. "Even things more nuanced... courage, for instance, or that wonderous afterglow... there's a sort of art to it, wouldn't you say?"

The guards return to the prison, with Mendacity and Perfidy in tow. Aggravate and the Crone are nowhere to be seen.