Riverside 20: Another day, another disaster

[Zefir]

[Finding Rattatas (Fade, Jaahlyn, Holly)]

The shadow nods to Jaahlyn. She sure knows a lot about this monsters around here. It's good they met her otherwise Ruby and he would have been caught by the monster as well. Befor he is able to ask her what the mark could do Holly comes out.

"There is something in front, but I and Ruby can deal with that." the shadow replies to Holly. "And you just got free by something called Leviathan. What happened? Those things don't let you free for nothing." I'm not sure if the mark is visible to the bare eye, but in any case Jaahlyn should understand that he's not directly asking for the mask on purpose.

[Recaiden]

"Fade! Took you long enough."

Ruby takes two swipes at the swarming bird-things with her claws, but ...
Are these things even dangerous? It this really the best the king can do? Or is he still playing around?
She trudges forwards towards the king. Let the monsters do their worst.

[Rebonack]

[Buffet Dungeon]

Entangling roots!

Those do a a pretty great job of gumming up the doorway even more than it already is. It's all but impassible at this point and the cultists are tying to figure out how to get out of the conference room.

Magdalena, likewise, scoots out of the way to break like of sight on the door as she conjures a second totem. Also a twisted wooden thing, this one has sort of a basket of branches woven around each other at the top with an orb of eldritch light pulsing inside like a heart. Bits of pink mist drift along the floor and flow up into the totem, giving a nice visual indication of how far it can reach.

So far it isn't actually doing anything.

At least nothing obvious.

All this should make it pretty clear that Magdalene is DEFINITELY a shaman of some kind.

Oh and one of the cultists gets blasted in the face and yells in pain. He probably deserved it.

"The (flower) where they doing in there?" Magdalene asks the druid.

[Morty]

[Finding Rats - Ruby]

The King in Rags still doesn't move, but since reinforcements are coming, it's time to intensify his efforts. He can only hold out for so long, with so little invested into this vessel.

The bird-shapes swarm, forming into larger shapes that assault Ruby with sharp beaks and claws. Now things might actually start being dangerous for her. Three of the shapes break off and fly to meet Fade. Instead of attacking, they simply try to fly right into him, then explode in a shower of sharp feathers and wooden thorns.

[Gullara]

Moth Park

I'm telling you, it's not heavy! Just, like, long." Anastasia rests the blade of the zweihander on a slim shoulder. If one of her hands wasn't occupied with the hilt, she'd probably be crossing her arms; as it is, she makes do with a pout and a hand on the hip.

"But uh, it used to be my dad's. Y'know, um, family heirloom." Her voice gets a bit more sober. "He was given it by his father, and his father by his mother before him, and well, now it's mine."

[Moth Park]

Too heavy, too long. Sounds like semantics to Eliseo. He'd say as such, but teasing doesn't seem like a great idea right this second. "Oh, huh." He says initially. He's not sure how to tiptoe around the topic of Ana's parents. "So they were, like, knights or something?"

[Shadowcaller]

[Buffet Dungeon]

"Evil... ritual." Anika guesses, she knew it was evil at least. "Some monster was waving around wand casting some kind of spell but I shot it out of its hand. Probably won't delay it for long though, so we gotta get in there!" At this point, Anika would have to resort to the classics.

"Wanna ride or should we separate? Since I'm gonna gonna go bear on these creeps."

[Tracking Rats] Archera & Flicker

"Miss Ruby and mister Fade went over there to take on the sovereign by herself while I and mister Fade's shadow remained here." Jaahlyn explains once Holly is out of the water, the leviathan not replying to her. "I think they might be fighting someone, I can hear strange sounds in the direction they went." She gestures to the other side of the lake.

"As I said before however, I'm only guiding you to the sovereign. I wouldn't take hostile against them or their minions."

[Earl of Purple]

Tracking Rats Flicker, Archera & Irena's Superhero Identity

Flicker nods and will follow, walking softly and slowly. She's possibly not as quiet as her companions, but her shoes are light. Teleporting for her is nearly soundless, but she doesn't know what the children are capable of, if they're even really children. They could feasibly sense her teleportation, if she uses it- and walking ensures she doesn't race ahead and stays within whispering distance of her temporary allies.

[5a Violista]

[Tracking Rats]: Holly, Jaahlyn

Holly looks over in the pointed direction, across the lake.
"And defeating this sovereign will stop the rat plague?" she asks, raising an eyebrow. It just sounds too simplistic to be the case.
Since, after all, that is the entire reason she came down here in the first place. If it'll stop the plague, then it's worth doing. If not, then it's largely just a waste of time.

She suddenly remembers that she forgot to contact the MERC people she was with. They were going to send reinforcements, weren't they? But this far through the tunnels, she's not sure her signal will even get back to the MERC group.

The half-elf sighs, and then decides to ask one more thing before deciding whether to intervene in the fight or not.
"One of the guys I was with already came ahead of me. Not entirely sure why he did, but the rats weren't attacking him so I don't have to worry about that. Kind-of want to see if what he came for worked or not. You know if he's ahead, too?"

[Arkhosia]

[Moth Park]

Too heavy, too long. Sounds like semantics to Eliseo. He'd say as such, but teasing doesn't seem like a great idea right this second. "Oh, huh." He says initially. He's not sure how to tiptoe around the topic of Ana's parents. "So they were, like, knights or something?"

Moth Park

"My great-grandmom might've been one, but I think they were, like, adventurers? Or mercenaries, or something." The line between all those titles always seemed a little blurry to Anastasia. Well, as far as it came to profession anyhow. Going out to see the world, explore ancient ruins and get entangled in all sorts of wild intrigues for a career usually tends to result in similar employers.

"They settled down and stuff when they got here with me, but dad used to tell me stories when I was little, y'know?" Ana chuckles. "I, uh, actually started trying to learn how to pick locks because of them."

[Shadowcaller]

Tracking Rats Flicker, Archera, Not Irena & Amalungak

The tunnel the children and their escort are heading into seems to turn into a sharp slope as they're slowing down. As the tunnel is also narrowing down enough to force everyone larger in either group than a rat to move into a single line.

This will make it rather difficult for them to follow without being detected but it does look like the tunnel is opening up further ahead for anyone that have some kind of night vision. Any kind of light sources used will likely cause instant detection. Amalungak will have to watch his steps.

Archera can likely tell Not-Irena's frustration at this turn of events simply in the way she move, but she doesn't say anything.

Depending on how long range Flickers teleport is, she could teleport ahead but there is no telling what's waiting on the other side of the tunnel. Perhaps they simply have to wait until the children and the rats have gone through it.

[UncleWolf]

The Empress' Estate

The cloak tears off to reveal a petite figure who straightens with a startled shiver as the alabaster skin of her soft and slender form is bared to all, shifting slightly on dainty feet and pulling her slight shoulders closer as if to try and retreat from the eyes she's sure are staring at her. She can't see if eyes actually are staring at her, thanks to the black cloth bound tightly around her head beneath the dark hair framing her face and curling slightly at the ends around her neck - but she can certainly hear that there is an audience. An audience for whom nothing obscures the swell of her breasts or what's between her legs, the fact that she's not entirely biologically female coming along with it.

The brunette shivers as the chill of the Empress's domain sinks into her skin and raises goosebumps, effeminate lips pursing, and the Empress and her retinue might realize a startling familiarity about her from. That ice-blue hue has been replaced with faint pink and not enough of her face is shown to fully recognize it - but there's no mistaking the rough diagonal scar, the mark of when a vicious blade had once been shoved into the left side of her stomach.

The Empress' Estate

There. See? Something truly special. The Wretch says, a hint of amusement and snicker to It. The blindfolded figure will feel the horrid clawed hand run over her shoulder. A succubus in essence, pleasing to the eye and surely to anyone's tastes, yes? To the blindfolded woman, the air starts to feel charged with static, a tension that builds. There's even a whisper in the background that sounds like...disapproval. There is also a clear sense of anger coming from next to The Empress' throne.

Instead of speaking right away, The Empress reaches out, setting a hand upon her handmaid's extremely angry shoulder to keep Glahr still. "I would advise that the next time you decide to put your wares on display, that you vet them more thoroughly. If you have a next time." She advises before speaking a Word. The doors to the Hall slam close, and as if it were a signal, throwing axes and daggers fly through the air, sinking into the Wretch's guards with wet meaty thunks and crunch of bone. Bodies fall as The Empress' guards close in to finish with the rest while The Wretch is left unharmed and stammering. You guaranteed my safety! It hisses, pulling a red glowing pistol from within Its robe and firing a pair of plasma shots at the Host. The plasma hits, scorching the silvered breastplate and denting it, but otherwise seeming to leave her unharmed. "No. I said I would not harm you. And I've yet to do so. I do not hold grievance towards slavers as many here do, but you took something that was already mine." She points out, letting go of Glahr's shoulder to unleash the seething rage.

Letting out a voiceless soundless scream of rage, Glahr grabs her Empress' sword from its seat next to its wielder and drags the heavy chunk of metal behind her. The blade, not taking kindly to someone that wasn't The Empress, exacts a price in blood as red runs from Glahr's hands down to the edge. Even so, even more blood is taken from The Wretch as the heavy blade is swung and crushes The Wretch and shatters tile beneath what remains of the body. Blood splatters over the slaves as a result, but a gentle gauntleted hand removes the blindfold. Not a sound had been made as The Empress moved forward to break the shackles from the slaves, and she stands tall in front of all of them. "You are all free now. And for one of you, home."

[Beans]

[Southside > Carrow & Grimm, Attorneys at Law Church of the Indigo Mantle _{NOW HIRING!}]

What was once a small law firm is now in the hands of new ownership. It used to be a house, then was converted into a small branch library, then a law practice, and now a church. It's evening as the lights come on. Above the door is an image of a rippling dark blue shroud dotted with nine silver stars. The lights come on in the modest two-story building that's been eagerly gussied up. Inside it looks a bit more like a library again, bookshelves filling day by day with borrowed, donated, and haggled books. The kitchenette sports a heterogenous array of kettles and various teas. Folding chairs are set out facing a bay window.

There've been no services yet, but the lady inside is hopeful. She sits at the front desk; she is this church's caretaker, its receptionist, its boarder.

And its patron deity. Kuanochlainos Euphrone, a small goddess adrift in the omniverse, is hoping to build her own faith again. She's put out ads about town, seeking the interest of those who would worship a spirit of night's restful and recuperating aspects. Her divine raiments this eventide are a navy cardigan, a secondhand astronomy club shirt from a local university, and slippers. The latter, well, you kind of have to in her position.

She's sure someone will show up. This time. Really.

[Deathkeeper]

Southside- Church of the Indigo Mantle

Against all nods, there’s a knock on the door after only a day or two.
The one at the door seems exceptionally short and a bit stocky, with worn sneakers, jeans, and a firsthand astronomy club shirt from the same local university. His exceptionally curly hair droops over dark skin, and he stands at the door patiently instead of letting himself in.

[Beans]

[Southside > Church of the Indigo Mantle]
The door is opened swiftly. The goddess glances down to see the arrival, her eyes shrouded by a gauzy veil. Bat-wings behind her shift, thumb-claws fidgeting.
"Oh, hello!" She smiles in excitement; her voice is soft. "You're here for the clergy position?" She ushers him into the modest space.

[bc56]

Eastside. An older building, patched and repaired numerous times. As long as anyone can remember, this shop has been run by Old Man Carter. He's a bit of an eccentric recluse, but he sells all manner of antiques and curios, often at a low price. The battered, hand painted sign above the door proclaims the shop's name in faded green letters. Inside, labyrinthine shelves hold all manner of oddities with no discernable organization, and, right by the front door, Old Man Carter himself snoozes contentedly behind the counter, leaning back in an ancient rocking chair with a red and white afghan blanket draped over him. The lights are dim, not enough to be forboding, but enough to provide an air of mystery to the place. It might be somewhere someone could find unusual treasures.

[Deathkeeper]

Church of the Indigo Mantle

The little fellow cheerily comes in when offered.
”Maybe! I wanted to hear what it’s about. I’m going to Westside U and I could really use, well, lotsa help. But a part-time job and sleeping good sounds nice. Are those wings real? They’re absolutely lovely.” he says with the biggest, most sincere smile. And a bit of an un-placeable accent.

[Gullara]

Tracking Rats Flicker, Archera, Not Irena & Amalungak

The tunnel the children and their escort are heading into seems to turn into a sharp slope as they're slowing down. As the tunnel is also narrowing down enough to force everyone larger in either group than a rat to move into a single line.

This will make it rather difficult for them to follow without being detected but it does look like the tunnel is opening up further ahead for anyone that have some kind of night vision. Any kind of light sources used will likely cause instant detection. Amalungak will have to watch his steps.

Archera can likely tell Not-Irena's frustration at this turn of events simply in the way she move, but she doesn't say anything.

Depending on how long range Flickers teleport is, she could teleport ahead but there is no telling what's waiting on the other side of the tunnel. Perhaps they simply have to wait until the children and the rats have gone through it.

[Tracking Rats] Flicker, Archera, Not Irena & Amalungak

Following closely will be difficult, but they don't need to be too close. There doesn't seem to be a risk of losing the group right now, so they'll keep their distance. Archera nudges the others and indicates they should follow. She'll keep a fair ways back, being able to keep an eye on the group with ease; the dark doesn't provide any obstacle off her vision.

Moth Park

"My great-grandmom might've been one, but I think they were, like, adventurers? Or mercenaries, or something." The line between all those titles always seemed a little blurry to Anastasia. Well, as far as it came to profession anyhow. Going out to see the world, explore ancient ruins and get entangled in all sorts of wild intrigues for a career usually tends to result in similar employers.

"They settled down and stuff when they got here with me, but dad used to tell me stories when I was little, y'know?" Ana chuckles. "I, uh, actually started trying to learn how to pick locks because of them."

[Moth Park]

"Huh, that's pretty cool." Eliseo remarks. He shuffles his feet. He can't help but proceed carefully. "Why lockpicking? Planning on breaking me out next time I'm in trouble?" He grins.

[Beans]

Church of the Indigo Mantle

The little fellow cheerily comes in when offered.
”Maybe! I wanted to hear what it’s about. I’m going to Westside U and I could really use, well, lotsa help. But a part-time job and sleeping good sounds nice. Are those wings real? They’re absolutely lovely.” he says with the biggest, most sincere smile. And a bit of an un-placeable accent.

"Are you part of the astronomy club?" She smiles hopefully, noting that her shirt is from a while before his---unsurprising, given it was in a thrift store. "College students have such odd sleep schedules sometimes, but I hope you're ready for better rest from now on! And yes, these are real." One folded wing reaches down, offering its neat little thumb-claw for a shake. "I'm Euphrone---what's your name?"

[Deathkeeper]

Church of the Indigo Mantle

The lad grins and happily shakes the claw. Her wings are so soft!
”Teddy! My name’s Teddy.” Well it’s Theodore but no one but his mom and his teachers have ever called him that.
”And I am! Were you a member back in the day?”

[Beans]

[Church of the Indigo Mantle]
"I'm new in town, actually---my pantheon got broken up and I couldn't find an opening in any others, so I'm kind of freelancing. Real small-scale. I'm a big fan of astronomy clubs, so I picked this up a few days back." She smiles. "Anyway, the job. Right now you'd be official worshiper number one. You'd have to follow my tenets, but I don't have really stringent commandments. It's mostly what the kids call self-care these days. Generally prefer that you do in fact sleep some part of the night, or at least chill and avoid disrupting the nightly rest and relaxation of others. And just generally be nice." She digs out out a small bound booklet that looks to have seen a long tenure of gentle use, handing it to him. It is titled The Silver-Studded Missive.

"So, Teddy, the benefits---the pay isn't exactly going to catapult you into a new tax bracket, but it's not going to be all that much work either, maybe more as the faith grows. Also, wave insomnia goodbye... and I could throw in some night vison? I'll be able to teach you some magic too."

[Deathkeeper]

Church of the Indigo Mantle

Teddy’s eyes go wide. “Wait. You’re the goddess herself? Just...here?” He bows. Briefly. But deeply.
”Wait, if I’m worshipper number one, and it’s a clergy position...does that make me high priest by default?” he grins. ”High Priest of good sleeping. I think that sounds lovely. Or is it more of a divine messenger thing?” He’s heard the foxes in Inside had divine messengers show up all the time to help people in dire need. Well not all the time, but competitively often.
”Magic and night vision and sleep all sound nice. I think I’d like feeling half as warm and fuzzy as the sort of...has anyone told you that you really give off the warm and cozy vibe? I think it’s the slippers. I don’t think I’ve ever seen holy fuzzy slippers.” He finds this both amazing and kind of funny. That’s probably a weird thing to say but he is talking to a recovering goddess it’s probably best to tell her the truth. And the truth is that she really does give off the “good night’s sleep” sort of vibe.

[Beans]

[Church of the Indigo Mantle]
She smiles at the bow. "Yep, you'd be the high officiant! To start with, your duties would basically just be recruiting. Spread some pamphlets around, let people know there's somewhere to get decent sleep habits. At this point it's basically a club. And thanks!" She flits her wings a little, pleased to have a fan already. "I try to embody that whole vibe. I mean, I basically am it, so, y'know."

[Deathkeeper]

Church of the Indigo Mantle

Teddy nods excitedly.
”Oh! Sounds great! I hope I can embody it, too. As much as a mortal can, I mean. So uh. If I say yes is there any ceremony or anything? Is there magic or something or just a business card?”
She did suggest there might be magic for her Officiant.

[Recaiden]

Eastside. An older building, patched and repaired numerous times. As long as anyone can remember, this shop has been run by Old Man Carter. He's a bit of an eccentric recluse, but he sells all manner of antiques and curios, often at a low price. The battered, hand painted sign above the door proclaims the shop's name in faded green letters. Inside, labyrinthine shelves hold all manner of oddities with no discernable organization, and, right by the front door, Old Man Carter himself snoozes contentedly behind the counter, leaning back in an ancient rocking chair with a red and white afghan blanket draped over him. The lights are dim, not enough to be forboding, but enough to provide an air of mystery to the place. It might be somewhere someone could find unusual treasures.

A customer enters through the presumably creaky door.
The guy is on the small side, has a set of antlers on his head, and is in kind of a gaudy outfit: blue-and-yellow striped silk trousers, a purple silk shirt, a white glove on only his right hand, a pointy steel headdress, and a bright red stiff jacket with many many gleaming brass buttons. He's got three guns on him (two matched dueling pistols and a plasma rifle), (three that you can see, anyway), a magic wand tucked into his belt, strings of ammunition, extra batteries, little opaque bottles, large translucent bottles full of liquid, pots-and-pans, a wheel of cheese in a mesh sack, a gold-and-silver garnet ring on a chain around his neck, a white backpack bulging with even more gear...this is a guy who appreciates an unusual treasure or two, is what I'm saying.

He glances around the room like 'what are the escape routes, is anything dangerous?' at first, gives the old man a little wave, and then seems to relax a little bit and start browsing the shelves.

[Beans]

[Church of the Indigo Mantle]
"Oh, there's a bit of pomp and circumstance." She pulls out an emblem with the same symbol that sits above the door. It glows softly with dark blue light shot through with silver streaks. She reaches out to offer it in one slender hand. "Do you, Teddy, accept this emblem, its power, and the duties that come with it? Do you believe in the restful night and acknowledge the star-studded vault of the wine-dark heavens? If you do this, then take this emblem and with it, an investiture."

Should he take it, there is a brief and vast moment. The building falls away around them. A tended garden with silvery bridges over a trickling stream surrounds them. Above is the deepest, bluest night sky full of stars he's ever seen. Spring peepers chime and shrill beside rasping crickets in the muffled distance. A half-moon hangs in the sky and night-loving flowers perfume the air.

And then... they're back in the library-then-office-then-church, standing on worn but clean carpet. The sounds and scents die away, but out the window he can see that the twilight is at least real.

[Deathkeeper]

Church of the Indigo Mantle

Teddy is struck dumb by the sight, but he does manage to dumbly nod and take the emblem. He’s a little relieved to be back on solid ground, but that beautiful night will be a sight he remembers for the rest of his life.
He looks down at the emblem and booklet in his hand.
”Okay. So now I have a badge and...an investiture? Is that like the money thing only it’s goddess-stuff?” What do gods trade around? Maybe energy or something.
”If that was your garden it’s beautiful. Very magic. Magic actually runs in my family, they say. Apparently my great great great great great grandad was a werecritter.” The curse skipped every generation since. Teddy and his relatives bear an empty, harmless shell of it on their souls. Like a blank form taped loosely to a door.

[bc56]

Escape routes? None. This building is definitely not up to fire safety codes. Dangers? Also none. It seems to be a pretty normal curio shop. Browsing through the shelves should turn up all manner of things. But some items seem to whisper with more potential than others. There, an old-fashioned brass key without a lock to match. There, a small glass skull with obsidian shards for eyes. There, an old painting of a middle-aged man, dark haired and pale skinned, arm in arm with a beautiful woman. There, a headdress of flamingo feathers and bone beads. There, a candlestick made from a severed, mummified hand. And many other items besides. This is a pretty large shop. But if none of those catch the customer's fancy, he might just hear the faint sound of chanting coming from further along the maze of shelves.

[Beans]

[Church of the Indigo Mantle]
She smiles, looking quite excited to have a clergy again! One whole clergy. Dere he is, it he.
"It's a spark of my divine essence! You'll probably find you can see in the dark a bit better over the next day or so. My blessing's in there too for the good sleep, but people can get the latter without the former. Top clergy get the investiture." She tilts her head at the werecritter comment. "Oh, really? Mind if I ask what sort? I don't strictly have any holy beasts or whatever, but informally a bunch of nocturnal and sleepy critters are associated with me. Bats are kind of the most official unofficial one."

[Recaiden]

Hmm. He already has a headdress, no need for another one. Right?
Or he could start a collection of them, for different occasions.
Yes, this is the better plan. He lifts the flamingo-and-bone adornment from the shelf (as well as the hand candle, that could be useful in a couple of ways) and heads over to the proprietor.
Plus, he does not like the sound of chanting from down that way.
"What can you tell me about these pieces?"

[Deathkeeper]

[Church of the Indigo Mantle]

Teddy shrugs.
”Uh, we’re not really sure. Leading theory is a bear or a cat of some kind. Kept to himself a lot, you know? Aw, but bats are such cute wee things. Wouldn’t object to meeting those as part of the duty.” Bats with their fuzzy wings and cute noses. Teddy loves fuzzy animals. Maybe it’s a bit of a stereotype but he doesn’t care.