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[ { "text": "---\n\n\n\n\"I'm gonna be working late tonight. Two of the editors quit last week so we're getting swamped.\" The voice over the phone said.\n\n\"That's okay. I don't know when I'll be home, either.\" Marie held the phone in one hand, and loaded bullets into an empty magazine with the other.\n\n\"Today's the day, huh?\"\n\n\"Yeah. I've got to do this, it's personal.\"\n\n\"I know. It's okay, really. As long as you come home to me safe, I trust.\"\n\nShe smiled on her end of the call. \"I know I never talk about him, but he was important. The closest thing to a father I had.\"\n\n\"That's really sweet, Marie. I hope you'll tell me more when we both get home. He sounds like he was nice.\"\n\n\"He was...\" There was a loud clicking noise as Marie slid the magazine into a pistol. \"I need to go, I'll see you in the morning, Nat.\"\n\n\"Be careful for me, okay?\" Natalie asked in her usual worrying tone.\n\n\"Always.\"\n\n\n\n---\n\n\n\nConveniently enough, Marie's office wasn't far from the police station. It was only 5 minutes away by car, and Marie quickly made her way inside. In her pocket was the note she somehow received at her door recently. Fraud cases were a common thing she dealt with, but this just didn't add up. Situations that escalated far enough for these accusations to be true tended to result in actual police officers arriving on the scene. Marie believed she would be able to remember something like that happening, especially if she was there. And yet, despite going through all of her records dating back to the start of her career, she found nothing. Either it was fake, or something else was in play here. The odds of her crossing paths with the Morse Code Killer, years before their appearances, and allegedly knew their father? They were slim odds, and the safer bet was that this was just a trick to fool her and her new coworkers. \n\nBut still, if it was true... Why was he there unarmed?\n\nMarie eventually found her way to the place she needed to go. The room wasn't exactly inviting, but nothing showed on her face when she took a seat. She crossed her arms and waited for others to arrive.", "username": "Blizz", "char_name": null }, { "text": "Wendy woke with a start. He rubbed his eyes as he struggled to recall what had woke him but all to quickly he regretted his internal inquiry as he remembered his dream. The dream was close to a nightmare but something about it reminded him about the good times, back on the property. That said, it's content seemed to be an ill-omen, a precursor of things to-\n\nNo. This thought process was dangerous. He was still wondering where his brothers and sisters had went but he had to kick this way of thought. Dreams were dreams, the mind processing the info that the brain had taken in. With this rationalization cemented, Wendy checked his watch and got up from his couch and strode across his empty apartment. Aside from a couple of kitchen appliances and the couch, Wendy had very little to his name. He sifted through a pile of clothes on the floor, grabbing a dress shirt and socks, before putting on his work suit so graciously given to him by Brother Grim. \n\nA handful of minutes later, Wendy was leaving the apartment, bagel in hand and smile on his face. He gave a nod to one of his neighbours who was just coming home for the evening who reciprocated the gesture but quickly made their way inside. Small talk wasn't something he got into much with his neighbours. He knew he was a little off-putting, price to pay for isolated with a group of like-minded 'whackjobs'. Despite this Wendy would keep his best foot forward and hopefully he'd break through one day.\n\n\n\n---\n\n\n\nWith his binder under one arm and two hands full of seven coffees (via coffee trays), Wendy carefully made his way into the room. He quickly put his his drinks down on the table before taking stock of the room. He noticed a woman who had already taken her seat. Popping two of the coffees out of the tray, Wendy walked over and placed one down beside the woman.\n\n\"Not sure if you're a coffee drinker but I figured a little caffeine would help keep everyone present.\" Wendy commented as he looped back around and took a seat on the other side of the table.\n\n\"I don't think we've met yet; I'm Peter.\" Wendy said, extending his arm across the table for a handshake, confidently though the confidence deflated a little as he corrected himself.\n\n\"Sorry Wendell, well Wendy. I got by my middle name Wendell; not Peter. But most people call me Wendy.\" he clarified, getting his facts straight and laid out.", "username": "rocketrobie2", "char_name": null } ]

[ { "text": "The truck shuddered to a halt, they were at where they were suppose to be now. The others in the truck seemed to be chatting with each other; Admittedly Harry wasn't really paying too much attention to anyone else, they had earphones in as they listened quietly to the lo-fi beat to get through the entire 4 hour trip within a cramped vehicle.\n\nAs soon as the trunk door opened, Harry quickly scrambled out into the world again. Their feet hit sand and instantly caused them to slip and crash into the ground underneath them, a couple of the other scientists laughed before one helped them up.\n \"Careful kid.\" The older scientist said to Harry calmly, \"You can't just scramble like that all the time.\" They said before they offered some stuff into Harry's arms as they started to get more things from the truck. \"You gonna be alright to help with assembling with the tent?\"\nHarry nodded at his words, before easily carrying the armful of stuff over to the place others had already marked out.\n\nSure, they had scouted out this place for months, getting the go ahead to set up camp here for a few months to study the ecological things of the beach. There were a couple of rumours of things living within this coastal area.\nHarry, of course, was the first to offer to help with this assignment, never having been to the ocean. The older Scientist, Talon, had made sure Harry had learnt how to swim before he accepted the Elf into the assignment.\n \"Surely the rumors are wrong.\" A female scientist spoke to another beside her, both of them moving to attach pole pieces together. \"Probably just a manatee or a shark that people saw.\" The second scientist gave a shrug as she was struggling to attach her pieces together.\n\nHarry placed his things down before moving over to help her, offering his arms out to take the poles. It never really clicked to Harry that some of the fellow scientists didn't see him as an equal, and some of them were still uncomfortable with the fact that he worked along side them.\n\n\n---\n\n\nIt took a few hours but the large circus-like tent was put up, Harry even offering some vines from the forest to keep the tops from tumbling over in the wind.\nThe other scientists were enjoying a few drinks in the tent once everything was finished. Harry on the other hand was sitting in the sand out by the sea, looking to the horizon with a neutral expression. He wasn't bored, he had just zoned out, thinking deeply.\n\nHe was startled by a seagull squawking loudly at him as it waddled up to him.\n \"I have nothing for you!\" He called to the gull, who fluffed its' body an kept making noise before Harry moved to grab it, slipping and falling into the sand again as the gull flapped into the air with another squawk. \"Yeah yeah, laugh at the oddball.\" Harry grumbled softly.", "username": "SporkoBug", "char_name": "Harivence Pineway (Harry)" }, { "text": "Chalakon drifted through the busy afternoon market circle, eyeing jewelry and trinkets on display in the afternoon. Most of the craftsfolk he'd known as far back as he could remember. A few shops had been passed from master to apprentice, but nothing had really changed. \n\n\"Hello Chal, my pearl.\" The wizened jeweler waved Chal over with a smile, clasping hands with the young mer. Chal grinned and gently squeezed the old woman's hands, noting the faintest tremor. \n\n\"Good tides, Gran Cora. How's the family?\" \n\n\"Oh, they're just fine. Aline is expecting, you know! Finally. I knew they were worried after the second year past the wedding...\"\n\nChal listened politely, though this was a bit more information than he really wanted to hear. But most elders liked to chat, and Gran Cora had always been kind to him. \n\n\"Listen, pearl. I will be moving on very soon.\" \n\n\"Wait, what?\" Chal was yanked harshly back to the moment, as if he'd gotten his tailfin caught in a ripcurrent. \"You can't!\"\n\n\"I can, and I will.\" The woman's voice was firm. \"My hands can't work the metal like they used to. And with the grandchild on the way, things are changing. It is time.\" She reached up and patted Chal's cheek, as if he were a grandchild of hers already.\n\nThen she plucked up a work from the display case and held it against Chal's skin. \"Hmm. No. White coral washes out your tone.\" She set it aside and eyed the selections on the table.\"Perhaps... Ah! Hold still.\"\n\n\"But-\"\n\n\"Hush now. And hold your hair.\" \n\n\"Yes, Gran.\"\n\nGran Cora wrapped a delicate, expertly woven choker around Chal's neck and tied the clasp. Then she swum up a bit to press a maternal kiss to his forehead. \"Lovely. That's a gift from me, no trade needed.\" \n\nChal touched the choker and smiled, feeling burning tears threatening. \"Thank you, Gran. It's beautiful. Um. Just remembered I've got a lunch date, so...\" \n\n\"Ah, young love. Don't let me keep you, then. Off you go!\" Gran waved and Chal rose up and up, leaving the market behind.\n\n-\n\nBy the time he reached his favorite sandbar on the surface, Chal's eyes were sore from crying. He wasn't sure what it was even about. Changes like that hurt him at the core, some days. \n\nAn odd noise caught his attention, and on instinct he rolled and slipped off the bank and under the waves. When nothing dangerous approached, he swam toward the noise. He found two strange creatures on the beach. One gray and fat and loud. The other was almost human, but the ears were wrong, and- was that a tail? Since when did humans have those? He watched from beneath the water, as close as he dared.\n-\n\nMeanwhile, one of Harry's earbuds starts to fizzle with static.", "username": "Mistress Dizzy", "char_name": "Chalakon Ankorr" }, { "text": "Harry pulled himself up from the sand with a grumble, spitting out a bit more of the sand, watching the Seagull hop towards him once again, letting out more squawks.\nHarry's left ear, the one still attached to his ear, fizzled slightly. \"Huh?\" He asked himself, moving to pull his music player out to check the connection.\n\nHe found the connection was fine and the music player wasn't damaged at all, he moved the earbud from his ear and looked at it, trying to see if that was broken as well. The seagull moved quickly, grabbing the cable of the headphones while Harry was distracted and moved to try and fly away, causing Harry to stand up and grab the music player before it could fall from the cable.\n\nHarry's ears twitched as he heard a splash into the water but was too focused on getting their stuff back from a taunting gull. \"Give.\" He tugged, \"It.\" He pulled again, narrowing his eyes, \"Back!\" He pulled once last time, his headphones breaking in half before the gull flew off with the top half as Harry tumbled back into the sand and slid back towards the water.\n\nHarry felt tears ebb at the edges of his eyes as he realized his soft music was gone, but the soft sound of the waves made him feel slightly better. He stifled a sob as he sat up towards the sea, watching the waves carefully.", "username": "SporkoBug", "char_name": "Harivence Pineway (Harry)" }, { "text": "There was the faintest sound, just hidden under the rhythmic splash of the waves. It would have gone completely unheard by a human. And in fact, it had been, every time Chal had made their way up to the surface. That was probably why the Aquapon felt comfortable enough to express such mirth so close to land.\n\nUnfortunately, they weren't aware that the tall, green haired one with the long ears was not just a different sort of human. They had no idea he'd be able to hear them laughing with amusement at the animated struggle, between him and the seagull. But it would die down once the tears appeared, replaced by the intense sensation of being watched.\n\nLike someone reading a book over your shoulder, or the eyes of a predator stalking prey, it would give Henry a deep feeling of discomfort.", "username": "Mistress Dizzy", "char_name": "Chalakon Ankorr" }, { "text": "Harry hesitated as he felt like he heard something in the water, he lifted his head up from his knees before he looked out over the water.\nHis ears twitched at the faint sound of laughter before the silence reappeared, the waves splashing quietly. Harry was definitely uncomfortable by the feeling of something watching him, he had felt the feeling back home whenever he was forced out to be one of the hunting party members.\n\nThe elf moved slowly, something was watching him; either from the water or from the edge behind him. He wasn't going to do anything rash at this point, so he simply pushed himself onto his knees to straighten himself up to look into the waves more.\nHe didn't move quickly in case whatever was watching him would get spooked and attack, but he was showing his size to allow whatever was watching would see he was unarmed.\n\nHe hesitated on the mere idea of calling out into the waves, or making any sort of sound; but his body wouldn't allow him.", "username": "SporkoBug", "char_name": "Harivence Pineway (Harry)" }, { "text": "The feeling of being watched intensified greatly. But then, the water rippled, and there was a series of splashes as something surfaced from the water.\n\n\"You noticed me. You can't be human. I've been watching humans for years and they never see me.\" Chalakon leaned on a sizable boulder jutting out of the water, brown upper body dripping water. Curious blue eyes stared the elf down. \"Hm. I thought you were human with funny ears, but no. Your senses actually work. What are you?\"", "username": "Mistress Dizzy", "char_name": "Chalakon Ankorr" }, { "text": "Harry watched the water before their ears pricked up at the splashing sounds before Chalakon appeared on the boulder by the water; causing the Elf to move to almost stand up, before the humanoid spoke.\n\n\"Hi! What are you? You're good at hiding-\" They started before they cleared their throat slightly. \"Sorry, You asked questions first.\" They continued, \"I'm Harry, I'm a Wood Elf.\" They almost babbled, their ears twitching and pricking up slightly, \"I'm sorry if I disturbed you in any way.\" He glanced back to the tent as another cheer from their coworkers as they looked away with their ears drooping slightly.", "username": "SporkoBug", "char_name": "Harivence Pineway (Harry)" }, { "text": "Chal smiled politely, purple eyes gleaming with curiousity. \"Harry. Wood elf. Woooow!\" That did it for the politeness. With a bursting splash, she pulled completely free of the ocean. Instead of legs, a soft yellow tailfin completed the rest of her body. However, one of the ending fins was smaller than the other, clearly malformed in some way.\n\n\"I am Chalakon, clan Ankorr. I am an Aquapon!\" She inclined her head with a formal nod, pink braids dripping seawater. \"And I have never met a wood elf! Or any elf.\" The cheer sounded, and Chal startled. But when no one else appeared, she relaxed. \n\n\"Is that your clan? They seem... lively.\"", "username": "Mistress Dizzy", "char_name": "Chalakon Ankorr" } ]

[ { "text": "The truck shuddered to a halt, they were at where they were suppose to be now. The others in the truck seemed to be chatting with each other; Admittedly Harry wasn't really paying too much attention to anyone else, they had earphones in as they listened quietly to the lo-fi beat to get through the entire 4 hour trip within a cramped vehicle.\n\nAs soon as the trunk door opened, Harry quickly scrambled out into the world again. Their feet hit sand and instantly caused them to slip and crash into the ground underneath them, a couple of the other scientists laughed before one helped them up.\n \"Careful kid.\" The older scientist said to Harry calmly, \"You can't just scramble like that all the time.\" They said before they offered some stuff into Harry's arms as they started to get more things from the truck. \"You gonna be alright to help with assembling with the tent?\"\nHarry nodded at his words, before easily carrying the armful of stuff over to the place others had already marked out.\n\nSure, they had scouted out this place for months, getting the go ahead to set up camp here for a few months to study the ecological things of the beach. There were a couple of rumours of things living within this coastal area.\nHarry, of course, was the first to offer to help with this assignment, never having been to the ocean. The older Scientist, Talon, had made sure Harry had learnt how to swim before he accepted the Elf into the assignment.\n \"Surely the rumors are wrong.\" A female scientist spoke to another beside her, both of them moving to attach pole pieces together. \"Probably just a manatee or a shark that people saw.\" The second scientist gave a shrug as she was struggling to attach her pieces together.\n\nHarry placed his things down before moving over to help her, offering his arms out to take the poles. It never really clicked to Harry that some of the fellow scientists didn't see him as an equal, and some of them were still uncomfortable with the fact that he worked along side them.\n\n\n---\n\n\nIt took a few hours but the large circus-like tent was put up, Harry even offering some vines from the forest to keep the tops from tumbling over in the wind.\nThe other scientists were enjoying a few drinks in the tent once everything was finished. Harry on the other hand was sitting in the sand out by the sea, looking to the horizon with a neutral expression. He wasn't bored, he had just zoned out, thinking deeply.\n\nHe was startled by a seagull squawking loudly at him as it waddled up to him.\n \"I have nothing for you!\" He called to the gull, who fluffed its' body an kept making noise before Harry moved to grab it, slipping and falling into the sand again as the gull flapped into the air with another squawk. \"Yeah yeah, laugh at the oddball.\" Harry grumbled softly.", "username": "SporkoBug", "char_name": "Harivence Pineway (Harry)" }, { "text": "Chalakon drifted through the busy afternoon market circle, eyeing jewelry and trinkets on display in the afternoon. Most of the craftsfolk he'd known as far back as he could remember. A few shops had been passed from master to apprentice, but nothing had really changed. \n\n\"Hello Chal, my pearl.\" The wizened jeweler waved Chal over with a smile, clasping hands with the young mer. Chal grinned and gently squeezed the old woman's hands, noting the faintest tremor. \n\n\"Good tides, Gran Cora. How's the family?\" \n\n\"Oh, they're just fine. Aline is expecting, you know! Finally. I knew they were worried after the second year past the wedding...\"\n\nChal listened politely, though this was a bit more information than he really wanted to hear. But most elders liked to chat, and Gran Cora had always been kind to him. \n\n\"Listen, pearl. I will be moving on very soon.\" \n\n\"Wait, what?\" Chal was yanked harshly back to the moment, as if he'd gotten his tailfin caught in a ripcurrent. \"You can't!\"\n\n\"I can, and I will.\" The woman's voice was firm. \"My hands can't work the metal like they used to. And with the grandchild on the way, things are changing. It is time.\" She reached up and patted Chal's cheek, as if he were a grandchild of hers already.\n\nThen she plucked up a work from the display case and held it against Chal's skin. \"Hmm. No. White coral washes out your tone.\" She set it aside and eyed the selections on the table.\"Perhaps... Ah! Hold still.\"\n\n\"But-\"\n\n\"Hush now. And hold your hair.\" \n\n\"Yes, Gran.\"\n\nGran Cora wrapped a delicate, expertly woven choker around Chal's neck and tied the clasp. Then she swum up a bit to press a maternal kiss to his forehead. \"Lovely. That's a gift from me, no trade needed.\" \n\nChal touched the choker and smiled, feeling burning tears threatening. \"Thank you, Gran. It's beautiful. Um. Just remembered I've got a lunch date, so...\" \n\n\"Ah, young love. Don't let me keep you, then. Off you go!\" Gran waved and Chal rose up and up, leaving the market behind.\n\n-\n\nBy the time he reached his favorite sandbar on the surface, Chal's eyes were sore from crying. He wasn't sure what it was even about. Changes like that hurt him at the core, some days. \n\nAn odd noise caught his attention, and on instinct he rolled and slipped off the bank and under the waves. When nothing dangerous approached, he swam toward the noise. He found two strange creatures on the beach. One gray and fat and loud. The other was almost human, but the ears were wrong, and- was that a tail? Since when did humans have those? He watched from beneath the water, as close as he dared.\n-\n\nMeanwhile, one of Harry's earbuds starts to fizzle with static.", "username": "Mistress Dizzy", "char_name": "Chalakon Ankorr" }, { "text": "Harry pulled himself up from the sand with a grumble, spitting out a bit more of the sand, watching the Seagull hop towards him once again, letting out more squawks.\nHarry's left ear, the one still attached to his ear, fizzled slightly. \"Huh?\" He asked himself, moving to pull his music player out to check the connection.\n\nHe found the connection was fine and the music player wasn't damaged at all, he moved the earbud from his ear and looked at it, trying to see if that was broken as well. The seagull moved quickly, grabbing the cable of the headphones while Harry was distracted and moved to try and fly away, causing Harry to stand up and grab the music player before it could fall from the cable.\n\nHarry's ears twitched as he heard a splash into the water but was too focused on getting their stuff back from a taunting gull. \"Give.\" He tugged, \"It.\" He pulled again, narrowing his eyes, \"Back!\" He pulled once last time, his headphones breaking in half before the gull flew off with the top half as Harry tumbled back into the sand and slid back towards the water.\n\nHarry felt tears ebb at the edges of his eyes as he realized his soft music was gone, but the soft sound of the waves made him feel slightly better. He stifled a sob as he sat up towards the sea, watching the waves carefully.", "username": "SporkoBug", "char_name": "Harivence Pineway (Harry)" }, { "text": "There was the faintest sound, just hidden under the rhythmic splash of the waves. It would have gone completely unheard by a human. And in fact, it had been, every time Chal had made their way up to the surface. That was probably why the Aquapon felt comfortable enough to express such mirth so close to land.\n\nUnfortunately, they weren't aware that the tall, green haired one with the long ears was not just a different sort of human. They had no idea he'd be able to hear them laughing with amusement at the animated struggle, between him and the seagull. But it would die down once the tears appeared, replaced by the intense sensation of being watched.\n\nLike someone reading a book over your shoulder, or the eyes of a predator stalking prey, it would give Henry a deep feeling of discomfort.", "username": "Mistress Dizzy", "char_name": "Chalakon Ankorr" }, { "text": "Harry hesitated as he felt like he heard something in the water, he lifted his head up from his knees before he looked out over the water.\nHis ears twitched at the faint sound of laughter before the silence reappeared, the waves splashing quietly. Harry was definitely uncomfortable by the feeling of something watching him, he had felt the feeling back home whenever he was forced out to be one of the hunting party members.\n\nThe elf moved slowly, something was watching him; either from the water or from the edge behind him. He wasn't going to do anything rash at this point, so he simply pushed himself onto his knees to straighten himself up to look into the waves more.\nHe didn't move quickly in case whatever was watching him would get spooked and attack, but he was showing his size to allow whatever was watching would see he was unarmed.\n\nHe hesitated on the mere idea of calling out into the waves, or making any sort of sound; but his body wouldn't allow him.", "username": "SporkoBug", "char_name": "Harivence Pineway (Harry)" }, { "text": "The feeling of being watched intensified greatly. But then, the water rippled, and there was a series of splashes as something surfaced from the water.\n\n\"You noticed me. You can't be human. I've been watching humans for years and they never see me.\" Chalakon leaned on a sizable boulder jutting out of the water, brown upper body dripping water. Curious blue eyes stared the elf down. \"Hm. I thought you were human with funny ears, but no. Your senses actually work. What are you?\"", "username": "Mistress Dizzy", "char_name": "Chalakon Ankorr" }, { "text": "Harry watched the water before their ears pricked up at the splashing sounds before Chalakon appeared on the boulder by the water; causing the Elf to move to almost stand up, before the humanoid spoke.\n\n\"Hi! What are you? You're good at hiding-\" They started before they cleared their throat slightly. \"Sorry, You asked questions first.\" They continued, \"I'm Harry, I'm a Wood Elf.\" They almost babbled, their ears twitching and pricking up slightly, \"I'm sorry if I disturbed you in any way.\" He glanced back to the tent as another cheer from their coworkers as they looked away with their ears drooping slightly.", "username": "SporkoBug", "char_name": "Harivence Pineway (Harry)" } ]

[ { "text": "The marketplace was bustling with the voices of dozens of people, all chattering amongst each other in tones that seemed to meld and warp into a mixed-up bowl of personalities, hopes, and dreams - all of which were, for the moment, irrelevant to Toby's mission. She was currently out shopping on her mother's instruction, with the latter requiring fresh oysters and fish for dinner. Toby was glad to be given an opportunity to show her worth and ability to be responsible - though she couldn't help feeling all too nervous about the whole ordeal, being all alone in seemingly never-ending crowds.\n\nInternally, she wished that someone - anyone - could've been by her side at that moment.", "username": "myrkwise", "char_name": "Toby Springer" }, { "text": "The cobbled street colloquially called 'Market Lane' begins at a corner, where it splits off the main road up the hill to the Communal Meeting Hall. The prominent structure at this juncture is none other than the Hoar Grocer, with its centuries-old and intricately carved wooden frame. The roof is said to have been the hull of the original wagons brought by the Hoar family in the pioneer days, and over the generations the family has maintained and brought its structure into aesthetic and cultural heritage with carving and painting the heritage of the town upon it. \n\nOther stalls and vendors, in preparation for the Festival, have been erected along this cobbled street in front of homes and the local café. At the far end of the street lies one of the town's two restaurants.\n\nSometimes when one wishes upon fate, fate conspires to answer.\n\nToby finds herself in, perhaps, the busiest place in the town on this given day. Despite the Hoar Grocer itself being cleaned out, the festival permits the villagers to set up their stalls and barter openly; this means that nearly one third of the village was currently walking this street and being an obstacle to her mission. On top of that all, as the throng of familiar faces maneuvered around she soon found herself in the sights of a vicious little crow indeed. If Toby isn't too overwhelmed then perhaps she may notice in time to flee, but indeed it is the young Odaya Bilica, youngest sibling to the tormentor Weasel at eight years of age, whose deep red eyes find Toby in her moment of desperation.\n\nManifesting as if from some foul nightmare, the raven-haired girl weaves through the crowd to suddenly be at Toby's side. Staring up at her with a sharp and tangible alertness.\n\n\"...Whatcha doin'?\" She asks in a drawling tone, jabbing at Toby's side with a finger. \"You're always so boring... Are you doing anything fun? It'd better be something fun. Because... I'm bored. I want to play.\"\n\nWhere Odaya was, her brothers were often not far.", "username": "Fading Memory", "char_name": null }, { "text": "William pedaled on his bicycle as fast as he could, Granpa was right! the bakery did indeed need all the help they could get at this time of the year, only Christmas and San Valentin got this kind of demand that he even asked William to go deliver things at people's stalls. Thankfully this was the last, going through town was a workout and even with all the usual energy he almost didn´t make it to his final target.\n\nAlmost.\n\n\"Delivery! Some empanadas, enamorados and a pierna\"\n\nAfter accepting the greetings, money, well wishes for his grandpa, and goodbyes he drove his bike to the nearest bench and slumped on it to regain his breath.\n\n\"Welp, time to go back for mor- Hey isn't that Toby?\" Man, she looked a little lost, no time to dwindle then, better help a friend.\n\nWith a smile on his face, he started the little trek to the girl-\n\n\n\n-only for it to be almost wiped from his face at the voice of the younger Bilica.\n\nUghh from all the people it had to be her, William considered himself pretty easy to get along with but Odaya Bilica was just so mean all the time he just chose to avoid her -and her siblings- as much as possible, but leaving Toby alone with her was a big no no, the girl didn't have a mean bone in her body to fight back and if Odaya was here then her brothers couldn´t be more than a few streets away.\n\nBetter to get involved then.\n\nHe ran towards the with as much enthusiasm as he could manage (a lot since he actually liked interacting with Toby) and called as loudly as he could \"Hey Toby! there you are! come on you promised to help with my deliveries\" Saying so he tried to motion to the girl to follow him back to his bike, his eyes shifting momentarily to Odaya to make it clear why he was lying like this.", "username": "Teyao", "char_name": "William Mencia" } ]

[ { "text": "William pedaled on his bicycle as fast as he could, Granpa was right! the bakery did indeed need all the help they could get at this time of the year, only Christmas and San Valentin got this kind of demand that he even asked William to go deliver things at people's stalls. Thankfully this was the last, going through town was a workout and even with all the usual energy he almost didn´t make it to his final target.\n\nAlmost.\n\n\"Delivery! Some empanadas, enamorados and a pierna\"\n\nAfter accepting the greetings, money, well wishes for his grandpa, and goodbyes he drove his bike to the nearest bench and slumped on it to regain his breath.\n\n\"Welp, time to go back for mor- Hey isn't that Toby?\" Man, she looked a little lost, no time to dwindle then, better help a friend.\n\nWith a smile on his face, he started the little trek to the girl-\n\n\n\n-only for it to be almost wiped from his face at the voice of the younger Bilica.\n\nUghh from all the people it had to be her, William considered himself pretty easy to get along with but Odaya Bilica was just so mean all the time he just chose to avoid her -and her siblings- as much as possible, but leaving Toby alone with her was a big no no, the girl didn't have a mean bone in her body to fight back and if Odaya was here then her brothers couldn´t be more than a few streets away.\n\nBetter to get involved then.\n\nHe ran towards the with as much enthusiasm as he could manage (a lot since he actually liked interacting with Toby) and called as loudly as he could \"Hey Toby! there you are! come on you promised to help with my deliveries\" Saying so he tried to motion to the girl to follow him back to his bike, his eyes shifting momentarily to Odaya to make it clear why he was lying like this.", "username": "Teyao", "char_name": "William Mencia" }, { "text": "Toby knew she was weak- though, perhaps that wasn't quite the right word for it. Weakness implied a sickness, a defect within her that diminished whatever higher potential there could ever have been. It was a word of capitulation, of admitting one's bankruptcy of strength. The issue, however, was that Toby knew that wasn't the case. There was a sense of will, an impulse within her that drove her forward, that pushed her past her cowardice and allowed her to attain something of value. The reality was not that she lacked any strength at all - it was simply that, for whatever reason, she didn't want to be strong. There was a part of her - she knew - that accepted her passivity, that crowed and longed for it, even. Was it cowardice? No- it was something else entirely.\n\n\"... Because... I'm bored. I want to play.\" \n\nIt's fine, Toby internally mused, as her body merely froze in place upon the sight of Odaya. Don't reject it. Don't try to run away. What point is there in that? Isn't this just fair? Don't you deserve this? You shouldn't pretend like-\n\nHer train of thought was shattered by a familiar, warm voice.\n\n\"Hey Toby! there you are! come on you promised to help with my deliveries.\"\n\nWilliam. It was so... like him to interfere in something like this. \n\nIn the end, despite the poison that lurked and snapped inside her mind, Toby knew that his presence was a lifeline for her- an opportunity to ignore that malicious taint for a higher, brighter aim. There was no contest, no ofuscation at that point. Paper beat rock, her friend's subtle plea beat her own pathetic complex of self-flagelation. \n\n\"Coming.\" she simply replied, turning to William's direction with a flat expression on her face.", "username": "myrkwise", "char_name": "Toby Springer" }, { "text": "The little crow's sanguine expression swiveled to follow Toby towards her newfound path of least resistance. In brisk, bouncing, steps the young girl skipped at Toby's side.\n\n\"Ooo! He can play too. Hey, Bread Boy, I want to play a game!\" She shouts towards William. \"Or are you boring?\"\n\nShe seems to mentally register the reason for this diversion as they approach William and she lowers her voice to a more conversational level rather than yelling over the crowd.\n\n\"Aw, wait. Chores? Boring. Boring boring boring. Just like Big Z-\" The Bilica nickname for Weasel; they would never call him that themselves. \"- and Gav; chores.\" She makes a sour expression and sticks her tongue out as if tasting something nasty. She promptly begins to ignore the two despite having tailed them briefly, and swivels on her heels to look around the crowded streets.\n\nShe almost looked deflated enough to warrant pity. Almost.", "username": "Fading Memory", "char_name": null }, { "text": "Rowan Moore\n\n---\n\n\nThe chances of Rowan showing up at Lake Chartreuse today were slim at best. She uncharacteristically looked forward to the festival despite her introverted nature. But she didn't want to go near it while it was still being prepared. The surprise of seeing it all suddenly in bloom gave the festival a magical quality in her mind. This was also one of the few town events that her mother didn't expect Rowan to have a hand in; the break was much appreciated.\n\nEven the wildlife around the lake wasn't as appealing this time of year. If the noise hadn't scared off a lot of the animals already, just about half the town running about the lake would do the trick. Anything left would undoubtedly be keeping a keen ear out for danger. Rowan loved observing nature when it was undisturbed by outside influences, even by herself. So the lake was off the table and she was in need of a more isolated spot to roam. Thus, Rowan found herself wandering the Weeping Sam.\n\n\n\n---\n\n\nThe Weeping Sam held many gifts for those who knew how to find them, mostly untouched due to superstition or general fear of the woods. Rowan trailed through its midst in sleek black hiking boots, careful to ensure nothing of import was trampled underneath. The underbrush of a forest can contain a vast ecology of insects and small plants, not to mention budding saplings yet to grow into more significant members of the wider forest community.\n\nRowan forwent her usual coat due to the summer heat. Instead, she opted for a white dress shirt with rolled-up sleeves and a pair of brown jeans. She held her notebook in one hand and the other free for shifting stray branches. Finally, her camera hung down from the strap around her neck. All and all it was light carrying for the girl, she would typically prefer a bite to eat and another book or so. But the coat was impractical and she didn't like backpacks very much.\n\nComing into a brief respite from the thicket, Rowan stood before the first thing that caught her attention thus far in the journey. A rotted elm lay fallen in a small clearing. This area was familiar to Rowan, so a landmark like this surprising her could only mean it happened recently. It was an unmissable chance to study.", "username": "Jumbus", "char_name": null }, { "text": "The Weeping Sam\n\nThe Elm tree was eighty feet tall, by swift estimation. Its rotted state is revealed by the break in the tree's core; the once great deciduous plant had swayed and splintered at a point roughly eight feet off the ground. This meant that a significant portion of the tree had fallen and snapped through the canopy of its nearby brethren, cascading the destruction of its own fall into an avalanche of broken branches and fallen leaves. Such is the way of nature.\n\nThe standing portion of its stump is coated in a rising colony of broad-capped mushrooms, climbing atop one another along the north side of the dead tree and forming the facsimile of a staircase up its surface. Considering her familiarity with the region and the timeline of these things, she can ascertain that the rot must have been set in for quite some time and that the mushroom colony had already begun forming before the inevitable collapse.\n\nIn this spot of the Weeping Sam, Rowan experiences a strange sensation in the wake of the fallen tree; the canopy, shattered as it is and broken apart by the death of the forest giant, is opened and allows a much greater amount of sunlight through than is typical of the dour forest. Rather than the dappling of visibility through a canvass of leaves, Rowan witnesses the forest floor in plain, unhindered, sunlight. The tumbled Elm further has broken open the earth, and already has begun to reconstitute itself into the forest ecology with the assistance of the mushrooms- as well as other forest entities.\n\nWhen she first enters the clearing, she seems unnoticed by a female deer who is making great progress in stripping the upper boughs of their moss and lichen. If Rowan had to guess at a cause of the tree's death, it was the seemingly suffocating layer of ivy that had amassed in its upper branches- ivy that was now feeding the herbivores of the forest floor.", "username": "Fading Memory", "char_name": null }, { "text": "Once he was sure they were out of earshot from the little girl he let himself release a sigh, truth be told he felt a little bad for so blatantly escaping from the younger girl's attention with Toby in tow but he knew the girl wouldn't let them go until she saw them squirm, even worse if any of her siblings got involved. \n\nTurning around once they reached his bike he directed his attention to the girl at his side, he hadn't seen Toby since Grandpa started getting an uptick in orders a few days ago but that wasn't a reason to not catch up, for all he knew she could have gone in an adventure all by herself!\n\n\"Hey, Toby! how ya doin'? I was delivering a few things around here for the bakery and saw you so I decided to say hi - Hi by the way!- and ask what you been doing lately\"", "username": "Teyao", "char_name": "William Mencia" } ]

[ { "text": "Lake Chartreuse\n\nThe paved asphalt road ends at the crest of the last small hill of the village before it reaches the lake itself; Ambrose parks there and has to walk down a cobblestone lane to reach the dock area itself. The path branches and a handful of other buildings stand along the lake's edge in relation to the dock- such as the fishery itself- but for the most part the lakeside is an unimpeded sightline and source of beauty for the entirety of the village.\n\nAs he approaches, he sees many of the village's adults joyously- or, at least, enthusiastically- at work. Lanterns of various sizes and shapes are being made, some in a traditional fashion and others just bouts of random inspiration or creativity. The significance of these papercraft lanterns, and the origins of the festival itself, have been thoroughly lost in time to the myriad myths and stories of the modern day; the most commonly shared myth on the subject is one that claims that the stars in the sky would twinkle out and die if the lanterns were not lit on the night of the Festival.\n\nAt the dock, he witnesses the hustle and bustle of Freyja Hoar's benign antics. The ceremonial raft was almost completely decorated by now, and it seems that a short break was in order.\n\n\n\nHis words and appearance draw attention but, in a standard fashion for the bespectacled girl, it is Freyja Hoar who takes charge of any offered grunt labor. She whirls upon the dock and hoists the young Stig to her shoulders. The toddler plays with her hair in his ever-quiet manner, and she doesn't seem to mind him pulling her braids loose one bit; her white hair tumbles into a lightly tangled wave over her shoulders as her brother does this.\n\nShe places two fingers to her lips and whistles at Ambrose, lifting her other hand to wave at him to get his attention. A two-pronged attack on his senses to ensure she successfully grabbed his attention.\n\n\"Alright, mister Single-Digits,\" She teases good-naturedly, calling out to him from the dock. \"Since you're so strong, come give us a hand with the raft.\"\n\nShe was an athletically inclined girl herself, no slouch when it came to physical things, and was particularly renowned for the speed with which she ran- and while her stamina was the limitlessness of youth, it was clear to Ambrose when he looks in this direction that the elders she was working with were all tired and more or less trying to save face by keeping up with Freyja's work speed.\n\n\"All you've got to do is lift the central beam into place and hold it steady; I'll secure it into position. Then we can begin decorating the mast and we'll finally be done. Think you can handle that?\"\n\n\n\n---\n\n\n\nThe Weeping Sam\n\nShe raises the camera. Her caution is rewarded; the deer does not immediately notice her still.\n\nShe snaps the photo-\n\nThe instant her finger presses down upon the activator, the deer's head snaps up. It stares at her, framed in the foliage of the leaves and broken boughs. In the instant of darkness of the camera-blink, Rowan experiences an odd sensation. The breeze kicks up and tickles the back of her head with its movement. Within that impossible instant of blackness of the camera readout or shutter click, a strange image burns itself into her mind.\n\nThe deer, but not as she saw it. It was larger, the doe's body longer and more broad, the dappled coat on its body deeper and thick- almost in the manner of a boar- but with deep glowing veins visible along the ridge of its spine. Its fore shoulders were far more broad and the glowing veins seemed to coalesce about them like spider's webbing, framing the broad neck and thin head in an almost eerie glow. A strange, wide, orifice rested into the dimples of those broad shoulders, almost like recessed hunches with leather-like lids that moved with some extra-muscular implication. Perhaps, most unsettling of all, was the deep blackness of the eyes.\n\nBut in the same eye-blink instant the image burned into her mind, it faded. For a moment, their eyes meet and nothing happens. The deer merely stares at her. Then, as if answering some unheard signal, the doe bolts; she leaps over a nearby shrub and in a blur disappears into the gloom outside the clearing.", "username": "Fading Memory", "char_name": null }, { "text": "Oh, Toby is doing fine, that's good, she seemed pretty sad when the teacher gave the results for the exams last week even though she scored pretty high (I got a C and pas pretty pumped about it), maybe talking will get her to relax a bit more.\n\n\"These last few days have been brutal! I have been around the whole town like four or five times making deliveries for Grandpa, people love the traditional bread that he makes for these festivities and they never seem to get fed up with it, not that I am complaining tho, more business for the bakery is always good and doing so many deliveries means Grandpa gives me some extra allowance\"\n\nNot that everything was good\n\n\"Not that everything is good, I haven't had the time to hang out with Syd in ages, and the few times I have been free she is always busy with other things... welp what can you do? So Toby, I just finished my last run and I got a bike and a desire to spend time with a friend, so what do you say, wanna hang out for a bit?\"", "username": "Teyao", "char_name": "William Mencia" }, { "text": "Audrey left the house quietly while her parents still slept. They had both had a late night; her mother from serving drinks at the bar, and her father from drinking half of them. She hopped on her father's Mustang. It was her father's in name only, as Audrey was the primary driver ever since his DUI last year. Instead of starting the engine, she disengaged the parking brake, and let it roll down their long, sloped driveway, swerving around her mother's Corolla with practiced grace, and backing neatly into the street. Here she did finally start the car, a reasonable distance from the house so that she hoped it wouldn't alert her parents to her departure. She didn't want to get entangled with either of them, and ruin her summer freedom. \n\nAs she pulled down their side street toward one of the town's main roads, she put her flip phone on speaker and dialed. \n\n\"Hey Aud,\" a tinny, crackling voice came through. \n\n\"Hick, got any work for me? Even just one?\" \n\n\"Sorry, sweetheart, but I usually just extend everyone's loans around the festival. People get forgetful, you know? Just trying to give them one fewer thing to think about.\" \n\nAudrey,  who had been hoping that same forgetfulness would translate into pocket money for her, grimaced but kept her tone light. Hickory Earhart was a very nice man, and she wanted to stay on that side of him. \"Alright, I understand. But if anything comes up, I dunno, like you need shelves moved or something...?\" \n\nHickory was perfectly capable of moving any shelves he needed moved. More so than Audrey, truth be told, but he didn't say so. \"You'll be the first I call.\" \n\n\"Right, thanks Hick, you're good people.\" \n\n\"You too, enjoy the festivities, should be a good one this year.\" \n\nAs she ended the call, she wondered what festivities she was meant to enjoy without any money. Her mother always gave her gas money out of her tips from the bar, but Audrey would never ask for more. She knew an allowance just wasn't in the budget. \n\n~~~ \n\nShe turned the car away from festivities(many of which were, in fact, quite free) and instead toward the edge of town. One of the roads that led to the nearby highway had a small paved parking pad on the side of it. Just three parking spaces, in faded white lines, and a sign marking a trail into The Shaded Grove. The trail was generally disused, including today, when Audrey walked right off it and into the woods, heading for the heart of the Weeping Sam. \n\nAudrey wasn't dressed the best for the adventure. Her boots, at least, were functional, if well scuffed Doc Martens, but she wore constricting skinny jeans. On top, she had what had once been a plain black T-shirt, but she had bleached a spooky face onto the front, and cut and tied it at the sides until it was a raggedy sort of tank top. \n\nShe walked with her hands in her pockets, not sure where she was going, nor exactly why she had come here. Presently, she came to a certain fallen, rotting tree and, not yet noticing that she wasn't alone, she lifted her foot up and kicked in some of the soft, spongy wood.", "username": "Gisk", "char_name": "Audrey Springer" }, { "text": "David Liang\n\n---\n\n\nDavid's morning was rather boring. He was no person to laze around inside for too long, but rather he was lazing around in the Armstrong Computer Shop. Now that the final exam period had ended, he could spend time more consistently to help out the Armstrongs with their day-to-day woes with machinery. But unlike the constant demand of food or drinks, computing service was not always so. Sometimes, things just work, and for David, that meant less work to do. He yearned to be out and about, hanging out and catching up with those in class, but he had one client he would need to take care of. Enrique Mencia from the bakery. He reportedly had a non-functional laptop, but he had a lot of work to do for the festival preparation, so he postponed it until now, so David couldn't really go anywhere until this one was finished. Luckily, it was almost time. \n\n\"Mr. Nicolas.\" David called out to the person inside a storage room, his supervisor of sort. Nick was more friendly and casual than that, but considering the boy who didn't know his way around the language that well, he was fine with being a little formal. He poked his head out of the door to hear what David had to say. \"Is there the toolbox in there?\"\n\n\"Oh, yes.\" He disappeared back in for a brief second before coming back out with the box he required, knowing why he was asking for it. \"Enrique right?\" Nick asked, to which David nodded. \"Awesome! Tell him I said hi.\"\n\n\"I will, don't worry.\" David gave a smile. \"Oh, and if you don't mind. Can I take my day off after this one?\"\n\nNick looked up and leaned his head slightly before nodding. \"No problem, I think we can handle the workload for the rest of today. Go and have fun ok?\" \n\n\"Thank you. You too, the festival's starting soon.\" David bowed, and looked to his father who was immersed in his own work in his own corner. \"See you dad.\" He said before heading off with the kit and a little piece of paper as he headed off to the Mencia Bakery. \n\nThe village was bustling with exciting activities. Everyone was busy but many had a smile to spare as David strolled along the street with his stuff. They knew he was part of the Computer Shop, some of them he had helped before, so he was no strangers. He would love to join them to help out or just to hang out, but he continued onto his destination nonetheless. \n\n\"Hi. Mr Enrique?\" The door to the bakery opened slowly, as the boy poked his head in. \"It's David.\"", "username": "Conscripts", "char_name": "David Liang" } ]

[ { "text": "Audrey Springer\n\n---\n\n\n\nAudrey jumped violently, landing back on her feet almost a yard away from the log, facing Rowan. She had to glance down to understand what had just happened, and when she did, she rubbed a hand over her cheek, relieved if embarrassed. \n\n\"Jesus fuck, Row,\" she said, \"I about shat my pants. And what about you? Just as far out as me, aren't you? What're you, collecting ingredients for potions? Giving up on science and becoming a witch? I'm telling you, it's the way to go.\"", "username": "Gisk", "char_name": "Audrey Springer" }, { "text": "Rowan Moore\n\n---\n\n\nRowan stood patiently watching Audrey jump back in shock. She even managed a muted chuckle upon seeing her friend finally gather her bearings on the situation.\n\n\"That was quite a few questions...\" She trailed off. \n\n\"Well, science is just witchcraft that actually works. So you could say I'm doing a bit of both.\" She replied then reached for something in her back pocket. \"As for getting lost, I'm not at much risk of that. But I do keep this for good luck.\" Rowan pulls out a small compass and shakes it around a bit to show it still works.", "username": "Jumbus", "char_name": null }, { "text": "Ambrose tugged a bit on his collar as the sun—seemingly always to be oppressive and bright—beamed down on him. A soft shiver ran through his spine as he felt the tiredness of his morning slough off of him. It wasn't as peaceful as he made it seem, his face contorting into an uncomfortable scowl before he snapped back when a whistle commanded him.\n\nHe waved before he knew who had made the noise or required his attention. Much like a golden retriever ready to fetch a ball, he sprung to attention and jogged over to Freyja. He always thought that was a weird name, but there were many strange folk in New Hope. An amalgamation of peoples from everywhere thrown together like a haphazard pour of jellybeans. Ambrose wondered what the name meant, if anything, and why there was a useless 'j' in the middle of it.\n\nWhen he approached, he noticed the disarray of her hair and the child atop her shoulders that had caused it. Ambrose tried not to make a face. Children were allowed to be messy and erratic, but he kept his distance from their antics. His belongings were too expensive to be soiled by tiny, grubby fingers.\n\n\"I said, almost single digit. Single digit implies dehydration on my part, and then your skin gets puckered and tired-looking. And I'm too young to be called 'grandpa.'\" He laughed, finding a complex, bougie problem to be hilarious. It would be noted that the townsfolk didn't give two shakes of a stick.\n\nHe glanced over at all the exhausted, older workers and wondered where exactly they came from. Did the retirement center let out early today? Ambrose shrugged. \"Sounds easy enough. Though fair warning, I've never been on a raft before. Mostly just yachts and a few story party boats. But you point me in the direction of what a center beam is and where it goes, and I'll hold it.\"\n\nAmbrose wasted no time as he followed her back to the cadre of withered workers, smiling all the while. A lot of people put up with him in New Hope, but he knew that the older the denizens got, the less they gave a shit about keeping their opinions to themselves.\n\nTAG(S): @Fading Memory", "username": "psych0pomp", "char_name": null }, { "text": "The Mencia Bakery\n\nThe bakery was alive with a panoply of scents. It was a wonderful exclamation point in the dry smells of the summer air; the warmth and softness of the bread smell rushed out the door as David opened it. The inside of the bakery was lit by hanging lantern lights (electric, not hand-lit) that were holdovers from past renovations of the building. The foyer had a comfortable atmosphere to it, with its wide windows and display shelves- though seating was limited, a gentleman's agreement to keep the nearby cafe as a dedicated gathering spot with the bakery merely being a stop on the way for the locals.\n\n\"Come in.\" The gentle voice of Enrique Mencia wafted out on a breeze of dough-goodness. His voice was coming from the back kitchen, but in just a few moments the wizened figure appeared at the front counter. He pulled gloves off, dusted his hands on his apron, and fixed a gentle smile laden with a subtle anticipation upon David. \"Ah, just the young man I was hoping to see today. How are you, David? You should be out relaxing with all the other kids, not holed up indoors laboring for little old me.\"\n\nIt was clear that he genuinely meant what he said, but also was deeply appreciative of David's efforts as well.\n\n\n\n---\n\n\n\nLake Chartreuse\n\n\nAmbrose's initial dialogue warrants a raised eyebrow from Freyja, who shifts her weight to the side and places her hand on her hip as she appraises him and his words.\n\n\"Mmm. Genuine hydration enthusiast, Ambrose, to my rescue.\" She laughs a strong laugh, then lifts Stig up off her shoulders and sets him on the ground. She glanced aside to a nearby elder and seemed satisfied that the toddler was being watched, before rising back to her full heigh and idly combing a hand through her hair as she turned to lead Ambrose along the dock. \"Well, a raft is certainly nothing so grandoise as a yacht. I'll admit that. But... I bet none of your yachts or party boats were key to keeping the demonic realms sealed away.\" She wiggled her fingers at him to emphasize just how dang spooky the idea was.\n\nAt the end of the dock was the Ceremonial Raft of the Summer Festival. It was large, for a raft, but still probably utterly unimpressive to Ambrose's high standards. What this raft lacked in size and innate grandeur, it made up for in decorative and cultural iconography. The raft was essentially a floating platform/stage, the edge of the raft accented with a decorative crenellation of papier mache. This castle-styled wall decor obfuscated a step up onto the central platform, where two elaborate and old arches were being temporarily supported by ropes. They were lacking the central beam to unify the separate pieces and complete the moon-shaped architecture on the platform. Vines, flowers, and hand-woven wreathes have been interwoven on the arches' wooden beams. Freyja gestured to the dock, where a large support beam laid. A local fisherman moved, anticipating helping Ambrose- but whether Ambrose tried to show off and heft the beam by himself or accepted help, he wouldn't get a rise out of Freyja. The girl was focused on her task, and with his help she would soon have the base of the support beam lashed to the raft and soon be in the process of lining the arches up with it.\n\n\"Well, it may not look too impressive at the moment, but once we finish up today and we hang the tapestry up, you won't even be able to see this beam anymore, and when it floats out over the lake--\" She pauses at that, and looks up at Ambrose with a lopsided smile. \"Well, this year they asked me to do the ceremony, so when it floats out over the lake I'll be out there with the old bell and the silly shrine costume and have to do the dance to appease the demons of Lake Chartreuse.\"\n\n\"It's not silly.\" One of the nearby fisherwives chortled, sifting through rolls of fabric in a basket. Freyja laughs comfortably, but the woman shakes her head. \"It's important. Can't have the lake waking up, no ma'am. You'd better do your best for all our sakes.\"", "username": "Fading Memory", "char_name": null }, { "text": "The smile on his face could melt snow he was sure, hanging with someone was always so much fun! Oh he could't wait.\n\n\"Great! come jump into my bike and we can star searching for her, do you have any idea where she may be, forget that just point in a directon and we will be off!\"", "username": "Teyao", "char_name": "William Mencia" }, { "text": "Nathaniel Westmoreland\n\n---\n\n\n\nNathaniel Westmoreland struck his shovel into the mound of dirt gathered in one of the family's rusted red wheelbarrows. He heaved in with what little weight he had, filling up the head of the shovel to scoop out soil over the wire fence. He hated feeling his fingers clutch tight the handle of the shovel, picking up small patches of hardened dirt. He hated his white t-shirt clinging to his sweat covered back. Nate quickly shoveled a few pounds of dirt out of the wheelbarrow and into the large mud barrow. The sooner he was done with his work, the sooner he could get back to enjoying his day. Nate grit his teeth as he rolled the wheelbarrow back into the large toolshed to keep it safe from the weather, and grabbed the coiled up hose. He sprayed down the dirt in the mud barrow to keep it fresh, walked over to the connected pigpen, and sprayed water into their water trough until it was nearly full. The stench was nauseating to Nate, but his nose had become dulled to the smell of the happy pigs and their piles of manure. Even so, dealing with the fresh manure and urine was Rory's job. Nate grabbed a long hook from the toolshed and used it to unlock and open the gate between the pen and the barrow. He quickly stepped back as a couple of the more clever pigs charged forward and dove into the fresh mud to cool themselves down. He groaned as he watched a small smatter of mud plop onto the hem of his overalls.\n\nWith his chores taken care of for the morning and the pigs oinking their satisfactions, Nate made his way into the house. He ignored his mother in the living room, sitting on the couch yet again watching game shows on the tv with her foot propped up on an ottoman. The truck was absent from the driveway, meaning Nate's father must be out running errands. Nate quickly stopped by the laundry room, stripping off his overalls to apply some stain remover quickly. He took a quick shower, and changed into a simple outfit: sneakers, jeans, a plain t-shirt, and an overshirt. He didn't bother letting his hair finish dry as he quickly grabbed his backpack, slinging it over his shoulder and heading out the side door of the house. He reached for the handle of his old yellow bicycle, ignoring the old peeling paint and squealing gears as he took off down the dirt driveway of the Westmoreland farm.\n\n---\n\n\n\nBefore long, Nate rolled to a stop in front of the New Hope Library. He parked his bike in an old bike rack, not bothering to lock it. He walked in, giving a little nod of greeting to Old Hickory as the librarian was speaking into his phone. \"You'll be the first I call... You too, enjoy the festivities, should be a good one this year.\" Nate climbed up to the second floor to find his usual table near the window, cracking open a worn copy of Homer's Odyssey. His eyes drifted out the window between paragraphs, as he watched those near the shores of Lake Chartreuse preparing for the coming festival.", "username": "webboysurf", "char_name": null } ]

[ { "text": "Brown unfurled himself from his berth, almost bashing his head on the low ceiling due to his focus being placed on porthole looking out to the streetside. His mother always said he was clumsier when he was growing, god forbid he was still growing. He stumbled out of the cabin onto the deck, still his mind wandering idly. He noticed Freyja, and another boy ehom he only vaguely recognised. He considered going up and asking if they needed help, but he didn't know them that well and wasn't sure if it would appear odd or not. He wished one of his friends was there, but nay, it was just him and his decision. Eventually he concluded that it might appear rude to wander off without offering, especially as he realise, since he had apparently been staring for some time now. He just hoped they had not noticed. He put on his shoes, an old ratty pair of trainers. He then timidly wandered down the lakeside towards the raft. The boy and Freyja seemed to have a good rapport, and Brown's self-consciousness was only exacerbated by the fact the well put together boy seemed far better dressed than Brown, in his worn jeans and battered flannel shirt. Yet he was to close to back out now for he had been noticed. He gave a polite, if noticeably timid smile. He only hoped she remembered who he was, seeing as they were only acquaintances, in his consideration, despite them having grown up together. He didn't know the boy's name, only having seen him in passing around town, though he was visibly wealthy. After what he believed to be the socially acceptable amount of time to smile at them for, bridging the awkward gap of distance between them noticing him and him being able to talk to them without shouting. He spoke out to them from the shore, \"Hi Freyja, noticed you over here. I was j- just wondering if you needed a hand from someone with a little more height.\" He chuckled nervously, realising it sounded like he was bragging, and implying the other bloke was short. Which was very much not the case.\nMemory@psych0pomp", "username": "PerfectThought", "char_name": "Brown L. Cheeseman" }, { "text": "Damon Howard\n\n---\n\n\n\n---\n\n\n\"And that's a wrap!\" Carlos called out as he clapped. He was a sizeable middle-aged man at 6' feet. He had a beer belly going on, but there was definitely some muscle there too, especially in his arms. He had a warm Mediterranean complexion, and his thick dark brown hair had quite some grays in it already. There were laugh lines on his face which betrayed his friendly disposition.\n\nCarlos Linares often helped organize events like this. For the Summer Festival, he'd been overseeing a group of volunteers as they prepared to help out re-enact the sealing of the Chartreusean demons. Some villagers even believed it to be an actual resealing. \n\nAnd sure, Freyja would have the starring role in that. Each year, the Fontaines picked who the most appropriate person was, based on the alignment of the stars, and spiritual energies, and who knows what else. Though, credit where credit was due, when Damon had watched her practice, he'd thought she'd do very well. \n\nToday, Freyja was away helping build the ceremonial raft – also very symbolically important. But these past few weeks, she'd often been right here in the town's enclosed sport's hall, going through the ceremonial dance, and prepping for the real thing.\n\nThe point was, even though she'd do the main part, there was still a very involved side-procession; first on the water in two-person boats to accompany the big raft, then on foot along the lake's shore and further inland. Damon might just be one among the several supports, and it was a small-scale production all in all, but he was pleased to be involved nonetheless. Proud too, though he didn't like admitting that one. \n\nAs Carlos called an end to the day's rehearsal, the participants dispersed into smaller groups to chatter and clean up. Damon, who was the only one around his age there today, was mostly left alone. Honestly though, he was pretty damn tired, and didn't mind missing out on some socialization just then. His breathing was laboured, and he'd sweated a lot. His clothes clung to him, uncomfortably sticky.\n\n\"Pheeew,\" the boy breathed out, and went to sit at one of the spectator benches. Off to the side, some refreshments had been set up, including bottles of water; blessed, precious water.\n\nHe grabbed one, closed his eyes, and gulped down almost the whole half litre in one sitting. He'd drunk it so fast, he was forced to cough a bit at the end there.\n\n\"Hola! You ok there?\" Carlos came by, looking down on him kindly.\n\nDamon nodded. \"Yeah. Thanks.\" He wiped his mouth with the back of his palm, and looked up at the older man with a tired smile. \"So? We all pass?\" He asked jokingly.\n\n\"Si, si,\" the Spaniard nodded, good-natured. \"And you! You did good. Muy bueno! Glad you're on the team,\" the man grinned, and reached out to ruffle his hair.\n\nThe adolescent scrunching up his nose in faux discomfort, even though he secretly enjoyed and appreciated the gesture. Carlos chuckled and let him go.\n\nMore people gathered at the refreshments, and Damon too picked a home-made oatmeal bar and some fruit to nibble at.\n\nAfter they were finished with the clean-up here, they'd all go up to the Shrine, to help sort out the various other props and start transporting them over to the lake.", "username": "SilverPaw", "char_name": "Damon Howard" }, { "text": "Rowan Moore\n\n---\n\n\nRowan gave a clever smile back to Audrey when she made the remark about making her own luck. She liked the concept of that; however rarely it comes to pass. Rowan was a firm believer in taking sure steps as opposed to risky leaps that may land her in trouble one way or another.\n\nRowan proceeded back to finish the final drawing for this area. It was of one of the parasitic vines toward the peak of the fallen tree. Her study wasn't close to being concluded, but she thought it would be best to start wrapping up. She had little interest in boring Audrey with the in-depth investigation and its details. Besides, the fallen tree wasn't going anyway. There was even some value in coming back once its state of decay had advanced.\n\n\"Hey, do you know which of these shrooms could kill a guy?\"\n\nThis question was not much of a shock to Rowan. She knew Audrey well enough to know it was just a wandering curiosity. It was just a shame that even a request to know the edible mushrooms would be met with the same answer. 'I don't know'. Rowan was only an amateur mycologist and only had good guesses on what was around the tree. She lacked the confidence to be conclusive. But that left some excitement for when she could get home and look them all up.\n\nStill, 'I don't know' is not a fun answer.\n\n\"Any mushroom can be pretty lethal with enough quantity. Even white buttons, if you were to eat your body weights worth of them.\" Rowan joked. Then returned to drawing in her notebook. \n\n\"I don't think I'll be much longer here.\" She notes without breaking focus from her sketch. \"Did you want to kill some time in town? Or continue exploring? I'm alright with either.\"", "username": "Jumbus", "char_name": null }, { "text": "Ambrose tried not to look aghast at the thought of a simple raft \"keeping the demons at bay.\" Though the color drained out of his evenly tanned face. Anyone that knew that young Hightower man would know that he was wildly superstitious. The more supernatural it seemed, the further he wanted to do with it. Someone had witnessed him scoop spilled salt in his hand and throw it over his shoulder once. Mostly because it blew into a woman's face and screaming commenced as salt in the eyes was not a pleasant sensation. So, he tried to keep his superstitions to a minimum.\n\nHe followed her, looking over the boat as they moved towards it. The entire affair reminded him of certain ceremonial displays he had seen in museums or preserved landmarks whenever he and his mother would visit Ambrose Hightower the First. They represented something far away and not at all to be found downtown in the small, rural town he currently called home. He'd lived here for several years, but never really taken part in the festivities. Usually, he was abroad during the summer. This one had been different as his parents had both become too busy to plan or fund such a trip. So, here he was. \n\nThere was a sort of a reverence held by the townspeople that made him keep his hands firmly rooted in his pockets and his feet one right in front of the other. As if one foul move would ruin the entire celebration and send demons clattering onto the docks with unbridled fury. He refused to be the bull in the china shop that released the End of Days upon the Earth. \n\nHe glanced down at Freyja as she admitted to being the star of the entire song and dance. Ambrose nodded in approval, as if it was warranted or wanted. When the older woman sniped that it wasn't a silly tradition, the chills returned back to his spine. \"I don't want to think about the fact I've been swimming alongside demons,\" he said. A wince bubbled up at the edges of his smile.\n\nAmbrose focused on the fisherman with the beam, not wanting to think about the literal hell that was their lake. While he may not have been the sharpest knife in any drawer, he wasn't stupid enough to throw his back out by refusing help. With a bit of grunting and sleeve rolling, they were able to get it up, and there Ambrose held it still. This is the part he'd show off. He had the stamina to hold something heavy for a while. There were implications there, but the ones that crossed his mind mostly had to do with highlighting his strength and balance. Not that he couldn't be a horny teenager, but his brain was too busy making sure that he didn't sweat too hard. He didn't want to lose grip. His feet bit into the ground below as he became oddly silent with the task at hand.\n\nIt was then that an inflatable tube man of a boy came up, floundering about like a fish begging for water on the shore. Ambrose wasn't too interested in him now, as he seemed to beeline to Freyja. Maybe he had a crush? And speaking of crush… the beam was trying to do that to his spine. Yet, Ambrose's thoughts ricocheted away from muscle strain when he heard the other remark on his height.\n\n\"Dude…\" he grunted, \"we're like the same height. \" He exhaled. \"You can help if you like, but don't throw me off balance. The lake demons will eat us, otherwise.\"\n\nTAG(S): @Fading Memory @PerfectThought", "username": "psych0pomp", "char_name": null }, { "text": "Seeing the phone ring a few more times and then die he couldn't help but break the silence.\n\n\"Well, Audrey doesn't seem like she is gonna respond, probably forgot her phone or forgot to charge it, you know how she can be sometimes, ha ha ha\" Wait, if she finds I was making fun of her at her back she will go off on me again \"But let's, ah, let's think of something else okay? Like where should we go looking for her?\"\n\nSmooth as always Will, smooth as always", "username": "Teyao", "char_name": "William Mencia" } ]

[ { "text": "Everything ached but in a good way. Ambrose couldn't say that was usual. The only thing he didn't care about was the few scratches on the palms of his hands from handling the wood. They'd heal quickly enough, but for someone that had a \"moisturizing routine,\" it was a nuisance. After Freyja vaulted off, the child in toe, he found himself swallowed by the night of festivities. The goings-on of the day had distracted him from whatever his brain could pry out. Silence was the crowbar of discontent for him. \n\nHe wasn't paying attention to anyone around him or anything that might have been said in his direction as they were abandoned by his car on the outskirts of the festival. He hit the key fob and opened the backseat, peeling off his dirtied and sweated-in shirt. It was then he realized that the guy from earlier was still loitering around. More so, that he was talking to Ambrose.\n\nAmbrose stood there without a shirt on, the coolish air picking at his bare skin. It was without a blemish, scar, or other imperfection, and perfectly crafted like it'd been sculpted out of marble or some other slick, sexy rock. \"Uh. Why would I know your mother?\" Violet Cheeseman raised no alarm bells in his brain. She sounded like a character out of a children's book with that name. Then again Brown Cheeseman sounded like a rare brand of some hard cheese served at one of his mother's wine tastings. He'd gotten blitzed at a young age thinking it was a weird grape juice and scarfing all the cheese his little mouth could hold. He'd been a solid circle of a child.\n\nHe pulled his shirt over his head and slid it over his chest, it was form-fitting, allowing the warm light of the festival to leave little to the imagination regarding his musculature underneath. His shirt was a deep blue, and on it was an anime character of some kind. He didn't know who it was. One of his friends back in New York had mailed it to him for his birthday. He'd tossed it into the back of his car as an \"emergency\" shirt. It layered with his distressed khakis and sneakers quite well. As if Ambrose could ever wear something unattractive.\n\n\"Ambrose,\" he said, \"Ambrose Hightower. I'm sure you've heard of me before, or at least my mom.\" He shrugged. \"Sure, I can hang out with you. I'm surprised you have friends.\" He paused, realizing how that sounded. \"Considering I don't know who you are or your mom for that matter. Are you new to town?\" He gestured to himself. \"If we don't find your friend, we can find some of mine. Mi… uh… friends… es… su… friends.\"\n\nTAG(S): @PerfectThought", "username": "psych0pomp", "char_name": null }, { "text": "Bilica Nonsense\n@Gisk\n\nAudrey directly intervenes in the perceived bullying of Odaya; she grabs the young girl by her Jumper and pulls. Simeon and Raphael release Odaya, whirling and backing away from Audrey in the process. Thusly, Odaya is lifted from the water- triumph in her eyes as she clasps an apple in her clenched jaw, every bit the struggling-for-air superhero that she thinks herself to be in this moment. She looks briefly stunned to find herself being pulled out by someone else- not having realized the scenario she was in herself- and looks up at Audrey with wide eyes. Still biting the apple. Then, seemingly as if on general principle alone, she kicks Isaias in the shin as Audrey offers him forth. Isaias yelps and tumbles to his knees, clutching at his leg- but does nothing.\n\n\"Trade? What the hell are you doing with our brother- He looks like shit.\" Gavriel points at Audrey in an accusing manner. However, before things escalate any further, Damon appears in a cloud of flamboyance and raconteur demeanor. His words and actions warrant immense confusion from the simple Bilica boys, but Odaya finally spits the apple out and into her hands as she looked down at the jacket now about her shoulders. Perhaps unexpectedly, the first to speak and break Damon's eccentric distraction is Isaias;\n\n\"It wasn't her.\" He murmurs quietly, looking up at Gavriel. \"It was-\" As the boy rises back to his feet he pushes Odaya back, cutting himself off by leaping away from the girl and to the safety of his three older brothers' sides. Odaya snickers as he escapes her reach, and sticks her tongue out.\n\n\"He thinks I'm a Lady. That means you idiots need to obey me, because you're just farmboys.\"\n\n\"As if, you little bi-\" Raphael begins. Unfortunately he is not permitted to complete the thought. Passing by Damon and Audrey as if carried by a ghost, the domineering physique of Weasel Bilica suddenly appears; suddenly grabs Simeon and Raphael by their heads; suddenly bashes the two together; then swiftly shoves their heads into the apple trough. He lifts his gaze and silently appraises Gavriel- who immediately balks, nods, and steps aside. Whilst his two brothers struggle in his own powerful arms, Weasel turns his head to Isaias.\n\n\"Go on, Is. Freakshow's right, you've got shit to do.\"\n\nWhen Weasel releases Simeon and Raphael, they surge out of the water- and somehow, despite his aggressive entrance, the social phalanx of the Bilica Family has formed instantaneously. Gone is all the overt aggression of the lesser brothers as they cower and sneer. Even Simeon and Raphael seem somehow aloof despite the bruises forming on their brows and the soaked nature of their clothes. Weasel remains kneeling and ruffles Isaias' hair, who seems to immediately brighten. Isaias looks towards Damon, and seems calmer than he did going up the mountain. He glances at Audrey- blushes faintly- then silently moves to Damon's side with a quiet nod.\n\nOdaya sticks her tongue out at Weasel- who only seems amused, his stoic-antagonistic expression showing the mirth he allows for his little sister.\n\n\"He says I'm a Lady.\" She repeats.\n\n\"He says a lot of shit, 'Daya. Don't listen to any of it. He's an idiot. Just like her.\" He finally lifts his gaze to look at Audrey. Utter detest plain in his features- despite how truly similar they may be beneath everything. \n\nOdaya snickers, and chimes in; \"Yeah just like her!\" And she now sticks her tongue out at Audrey. She then, paradoxically, waddles over and offers the apple up to Audrey. Perhaps as thanks for the rescue. Perhaps because she didn't like apples. Perhaps.", "username": "Fading Memory", "char_name": null }, { "text": "Rowan Moore\n\n---\n\n\nHearing another person approach through the treeline, Rowan closed her notebook halfway through shading her sketch. It was just about done anyway and having another person there probably meant she wouldn't have the peace and quiet to finish. She was surprised to see her father addressing her. But perhaps she shouldn't have been. If anyone could find them out here, it was him. The smallest Bilica tailing behind him was more unexpected.\n\nDucklings? Why did her dad have to be so embarrassing? Rowan didn't see how her father spoke as much of an issue when it was just the two of them. But with Audrey around, she couldn't help but associate some of his words with a cartoon bear warning against forest fires she saw on TV as a kid. Still, Rowan gave a reluctant smile at her father's speech and went to join him on the trek back to New Hope.\n\nAs she passed, Rowan got a closer look of Isaias. He looked worse for wear, real worse for wear. She couldn't help but wonder if that bruise on his cheek as a result of getting lost or by some other means. She wasn't going to dwell on it though, and she only looked at the boy for an extended second before switching her attention back to her father.\n\nThere was a saying Rowan had and it was a rule she intended to follow. If it's Bilica business, then it's none of hers. It was a cold statement, particularly when she looked at how the younger Bilica's often wound up. But they were bad news, the less she has to do with them the better.\n\n\"I actually like the old rituals and stories, did you know there's almost nothing written down about them in the library? It's all oral history.\"\n\n\"Really? I always thought they were written down somewhere...\"\n\n\"Maybe a certain library assistant could write them down sometime.\"\n\nRowan continued to make small talk with her dad and Audrey on the way back.\n\n\n\n---\n\n\nWith the sun setting and temperatures dropping, Rowan showed up to the festival in her regular coat but few other clothing changes other than that. The festival looked great as always, the awe of the town's achievements year after year hardly faded as Rowan grew older. And yet her sense of dress on the day never seemed to match. Her choice of monochromatic and muted colours ironically made her stand out more.\n\nRowan quickly found herself slipping away from the company she arrived with. Audrey seemed to be wandering off with Isiais, likely to the other Bilica kids, and no doubt her dad would be looking for her mum to do the regular town politics. That left Rowan somewhere between the two opposite ends of town relations, just enjoying the festival.\n\nRowan went about trying out some of the various games. Most were the ones present last year, but she still found them enjoyable.", "username": "Jumbus", "char_name": null } ]

[ { "text": "Sidney Malcolm\n\nWhen Audrey grimaced and emptied out her pockets, Sidney grimaced with her in sympathy. It was never a good feeling to be low on cash, especially when the festival was happening and everyone around you was having fun and you just… couldn't. \"Oh, sure. No problem.\"\n\nCome to think of it, did she have any money on her? Leaving the house in a rush as she did, Sidney wasn't actually sure if she'd remembered to bring any with her. She checked, patting down the sides of her jacket and reaching inside to where she usually kept that sort of thing; for a moment she was worried they would both have to hungry, which would be embarrassing, but luckily she was able to find a few bills in an inside pocket. \"Yeah, okay, no problem. And you don't to pay me back; just cover me the next time we go out, okay?\" Not that there was much difference, but Sidney preferred to treat these things in a kind of 'pay it forward' way rather than hold people to a debt. It was less awkward that way; for herself as much as the other person.\n\nPutting her hands in her pockets, Sidney picked a direction at random and began to walk, trusting Audrey to follow along. \"And I'm picking where we eat. Did you see any good stalls? I only just got here; haven't had a chance to look around.\"", "username": "King Cosmos", "char_name": "Sidney Malcolm" }, { "text": "Rowan Moore\n\n---\n\n\nRowan took Stig's blank stare with a delayed nod as an affirmation. She took the toddler by the hand and looked around for where the concert stage would be. It didn't take her long to collect her bearings considering the stage was exactly where it was every year. She was about to see off before David grabbed her attention again.\n\n\"Well, uhh.\" David turned to Rowan. \"I hope you don't mind. We can look for Freyja together.\"\n\nThe others who were playing the game looked to be heading off elsewhere and it didn't look like David was joining them. Rowan didn't mind him tagging along with her of course. What interactions she had with the guy were sparse, but he seemed nice and respectful company. That was a breath of fresh air when compared to some of the other kids in town. Rowan's only concern was that trying to reunite a lost toddler with his family wasn't a riveting task.\n\n\"I'm afraid I'm not doing anything exciting. But you can tag along if you want.\" Rowan replied back with a muted but welcoming smile. \"I think Freyja should be somewhere around the stage. But I'm not sure, I don't really keep up with what happening at these things until I'm actually here.\" She joked as the two started heading toward the stage area.\n\nAs they were walking, Rowan noticed a buzz in her pocket. Then again. And again. Then twice more. Leaving her to wonder what exactly could be happening that her phone would be going berserk. Grabbing out her phone, Rowan checked her notifications to discover she had just received 5 texts from Ambrose. 5 texts from Ambrose during the festival when it couldn't possibly be about tutoring meant nothing good. \n\nLuckily my phone just ran out of power so I couldn't have received those texts. Rowan thought to herself as she held down the power button to shut it off and place it back in her pocket. She didn't like to be bothered by her phone while she was at the festival anyway.\n\n@Fading Memory@psych0pomp", "username": "Jumbus", "char_name": null }, { "text": "Audrey Springer\n\n---\n\n\n\n\"You got a deal!\" Audrey said, brightly, offering her hand to shake. \"You choose today, I'll choose when I pay. So there's like three different kinds of fried dough I've seen, and apples if you wanna dunk your head in a trough for your food like a pig. Someone's grilling meat, somewhere,\" she added this last part with a sniff to the crowded air.\n\nCosmos", "username": "Gisk", "char_name": "Audrey Springer" }, { "text": "Brown's laughter ambushed Ambrose's senses. He'd gotten distracted looking at the lights and the booths. This had been the first time he'd attended the festival, and he had to admit that for such a small, homey town, they'd gone out of their way to make things seem larger than life. Brown's laughter caused Ambrose's smile to ignite even further, going from a close-lipped smirk to showing off thousands of dollars of dental work and whitening treatments. \n\n\"A fool? That tracks. Audrey calls me the town idiot, constantly. I figure that you mean in a more positive way like a court jester, than the moron that shits in the well. Not that we have a town well to shit in. Though I imagine that this fair has at least a port-a-potty or two. Though, I guess that'd be more the town box that everyone shits in.\" He placed his hands on his hips. \"I think the analog—nope—anthology—comparison has gotten away from me.\"\n\nAt the mention of Brown's friend, Ambrose shrugged. \"Wow. Are people getting drunk there instead of here? There are shiny lights here. There are just beer farts there. Well, I say let's have fun without him. I'm sure I can beat whatever games they have lined up.\" He lifted his arms up in a strong man pose and patted his bicep like it was a Pomeranian that had just learned how to fetch. He eyeballed one of the classic carnival games of hitting the hammer down on the target to make the weight go up to the bell. \"Oh. There we go. Maybe we'll win something. You can give it to Rowan or to your friend. Try to soothe his beer fart-burnt nostrils.\"\n\nAmbrose did check his phone about then, curious to see if Rowan had gotten back to him. It showed that they were unread. He narrowed his eyes at that. Then again, their relationship was just based on him paying her to make it seem like he was an academic. She probably assumed that he'd forgotten how to tie his shoelaces or something and muted him. No. Rowan was nice. She wasn't like some of the other people that his mother had hired to try to make her son the shiniest diamond in the shit mine. Rowan was probably just caught up in the festivities and hadn't seen her phone yet. Ambrose soothed his ego with that.\n\nThough mentioning Audrey earlier reminded him that he hadn't heard from her during this entire day. She was probably off doing something exciting, but what was more exciting than him? Nothing. So, he shot her a quick message before returning his attention to Brown.\n[🍆?]\n\nTAG(S): @Gisk @PerfectThought", "username": "psych0pomp", "char_name": null }, { "text": "Aleyn Ward\n\nAleyn stood near the front of the New Hope Inn, door open wide for the world to see inside. The hustle and bustle of the festival had many of tourists coming and going, giving an amount of attention only afforded to the Ward family during holidays. His mind instead was focused on how fast and far he could get away from the Inn, away from his brother's abuse. Unfortunately that man stood near the door, glaring at his little brother, ready to backhand if he uttered even the slightest disrespect. Aleyn turned his back to begin walking down the brightly lit street, his brother fixing his tie while just waiting till the boy was just a bit farther away to speak up. \n\n\"Enjoy yourself. Tomorrow you have a big day. Don't come back late.\"\n\nInstead of speaking back, the boy just waved back. He didn't want to say anything to Markus because it would just end in a shouting match and that was exactly the thing he didn't need right now especially without Alycia there to calm either down. He was always happy that at-least she was spared from their guardian's wrath, able to grow up experiencing life with a happiness that Aleyn never got. Thankfully there was at-least one person beyond his sister that cared for him and that's when it hit him that he should probably check his phone. Grabbing it from his pocket, he quickly opened it using Alycia's birthday as the password, noticing that he had a message from Brown. \n\n\"AW CRAP! BROWNIE BOY HERE I COME!\"\n\nSeveral minutes passed as Aleyn made a mad dash to the festival area to find his best friend. Eventually he came upon the highstreet, almost immediately seeing Brown standing next a pretty big guy. He had no clue who this guy was but he did look familiar as if he had saw him around town. Whoever it was was didn't matter to him, he just cared if his friend was being treated right. Walking up to his friend, he slapped him back with a huge smile on his face before leaning on him, too short to actually lean on Brown's shoulder. \n\n\"Brownie, what's up? Ya enjoying the lame festival? Meet a girl yet?\", Aleyn looked the other guy up and down, placing his hand in the air to signify just how tall the guy was in comparison, \"Who's this guy? He's like...HUGE?!\" \n\n@PerfectThought", "username": "Taka", "char_name": "Aleyn Ward" }, { "text": "Brown Cheeseman\nBrown grinned as Ambrose monologued. He closed his left eye and tilted his head slightly, observing him as he rambled. Brown considered offering up 'analogy' but decided against it in an effort to not seem like an ass.\n\nSuddenly Brown sensed the energy bizzing off of his ling time bestfriend, he turned around scanning the crowd for Aleyn, upon seeing nothing he turned back around, just as his minute stature appeared from the crowd in his peripheral vision. A sharp prang on the back alerted him to his presence as his arm was pinned down by his mate leaning on him. His grin did not let up.\n\nBrown glanced down as Aleyn energetically dialogued.\n\nHe responded quickly trying to keep up with his interrogation, before Aleyn could make up his mind on Ambrose. Most likely in a negative light. \"Holy shit! The prodigal son returns! This is my new frie- acquaintance, Ambrose. And he's not even that big.\" He looked puzzled at Ambrose, unsure of the correct term, trying hoping it wasn't a social faux pas. He continued, \"The festival's pretty good man. Me Ambrose, and Freya did this year's raft. It's almost midnight man. Pub busy?\" He attempted to skirt around the girl question, hoping it would go unnoticed by his more outspoken entourage.\n@psych0pomp", "username": "PerfectThought", "char_name": "Brown L. Cheeseman" } ]

[ { "text": "Aleyn Ward\n\nAleyn could only sigh in disapproval as the ceremony began. This kind of stuff didn't interest the young boy at all, not caring for any of the village traditions. His mind raced with thoughts at the various acts of disrespect that were brought upon him, always facing backlash for just being himself, the village never knowing the amount of pain and suffering that he had endured since his parents went missing. They never cared for him so why should he care for them? Aleyn could only ask himself that question over and over till his head started to throb. So much trauma for one little boy made him jaded toward things that should be fun within the town, but even in his angsty, silent tantrum, his eyes became locked on a certain young woman standing upon the raft. \n\n\"STOP STARING AT FREYJA!\" \n\n\"SHUT UP!\"\n\nA yell from behind him and a sharp tug at his shirt alerted the youngster to look down, his golden eyes meeting with the blue eyes of his tomboy baby sister. Looking like a boy, as she always did, Aleyn placed his hand on her head, squeezing tightly till the little girl cried out. She grabbed hand, trying to pry her brother's hand away. Aleyn leaned over and stared at her with a toothy smile like a mad scientist staring at his latest creation. \n\n\"Shut yer mou---\" \n\nBefore Aleyn could finish chewing out his sibling, Freyja's scream filled the air before a column of water rose to swallow her whole. He looked onward with horror and confusion whilst grabbing Alycia up into his arms, the water rose around him at such a speed that no human could possibly move. They were both swallowed up, fear racing through their bodies.\n\nYo'Bikur\n\n\"ALYCIA!\"\n\nAleyn's words went nowhere fast as his face was submerged under the lake water, air bubbles raising to the surface. His eyes shot open, and he quickly threw his head back; Aleyn's breathing matched the speed of his movements, nearly hyperventilating at the events he just went through. Fear still shooting through his body causing the boy to bite down on his bottom lip. \"Ow!\" he exclaimed as he felt a sharp pain like a blade had dug into his lips. Blood slid down his chin, Aleyn using his tongue to touch the two snake-like fangs that now protruded from the upper row of his teeth. His pupils had become slit like a snake as well, the gold coloring in his iris glowing brighter then normal. Looking downward, his eyes caught a sight that caused more confusion. His shirt was torn up to the shoulder and gave way to a snake tattoo wrapped its way around his right arm up to his neck. Weirdly the tattoo was black and scaly like a snake's skin, Aleyn visibly in disbelief at his body. \n\n\"What the fuck?\"", "username": "Taka", "char_name": "Aleyn Ward" }, { "text": "She still seems tense but perhaps a little small talk will help her relax for a bit.\n\n\"Okay dude! so did you know that almost all the old ladies across my neighborhood once challenged my grandpa to a baking contest? Yeah that is the reason he is not allowed to compete anymore...\"\n\n-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-\n\nHe had almost forgotten the traditional gathering at the edge of the Lake, he couldn't see Grandpa anywhere but he would have surely been annoyed if Will had forgotten to attend, maybe enough to punish him by giving him ... extra math problems. Suppressing a shudder at the horrifying thought he looked toward the beginning of the ceremony.\n\nFreyja really got into the role of Miko and he was impressed by how well she danced! He remembers trying some of the moves when he was younger and falling between steps or doing the wrong thing, good memori-\n\n\"What is that voice?\"\n\nA soft melody in a girl's voice reached his ears and the moment he tried to focus on it was like a spell was cast on him, he didn't notice the column of water or the panicked Hoar the Lake shallowed, ignored the people rushing towards the water and away from it, it didn't even occur to him that the vast majority of people were frozen in time with his dear Abuelo being one of them, even the girl grabbing his side felt out of focus. No, the moment he registered the singing voice all his worries simply were discarded as irrelevant and a distraction, so he didn't even have a single thought hesitated a second on walking towards the lake and entering the water, closing his eyes as the water consumed him.\n\nYo'Bikur\n\nThe moment he opened his eyes again he found himself laying on his back and strangely at peace, of course, that only lasted until he heard the confused and sometimes panicked voices of his fellow abductees. which prompter him to raise to his feet as fast as he could!\n\nOnly to trip a moment later as an unexpected weight on his back throwing off his balance and because his feet were no longer feet, instead before there were normal human extremities now stood a par of hooves that transitioned from hairy goat legs to his normal ones between. He stood a moment just contemplating the change, he knew that he should have some kind of reaction to the change but it somehow felt... natural, as if that was something that always had been there and he just didn't notice. Carefully and slowly he raised again, this time getting on his knees before standing up, once he was fully vertical again he finally fell on his back for the weird weight settled there only to receive two sensory feedbacks, one the feeling of feathers and the other of clay upon his wings.\n\nFinally giving on to his curiosity he approached the nearest pond with steps that slowly grew in confidence, looking at himself in the reflection he finally saw what the thing on his back was.\n\n\n\"Oh they are wings\"\n\nA moment later the change finally registered in his mind and chased away the strange dissonance he had been experiencing.\n\n\"OH MY GOD THEY ARE WINGS!\"\n\nExcitedly he tried to flap them and after a few seconds managed to get them to twitch and spasm before he remembered that there were others around and there was a lot to process.\n\nWith hurried steps (and silently handing who he though was Ambrose a rubber hair tie), he made his way to Sydney's side (Syd was here! and she looked like a painting!) before looking in the direction she was looking at. That was when he finally noticed the dragon. @psych0pomp @King Cosmos\n\nThat said he never noticed that his hair was moving in erratic patterns. almost like of had a mind of its own.", "username": "Teyao", "char_name": "William Mencia" } ]

[ { "text": "Sidney Malcolm\n\nSidney was subdued as she followed the others into the city. She didn't speak or join in with the conversations with the others as they trailed Eckehart through the crowds that parted for them, nor did she engage with the strange and varied revellers that they passed along the way, sticking close to the centre of the group. Her head was still swimming with everything that was happening, the lake coming to life and snatching them up, waking up in this place with their bodies transformed and being pulled along by this Eckehart guy to… somewhere, to meet this 'True Voice' of his, before she had time to even come to terms with the fact that there was a dragon, a dragon right over there.\n\nAll the while the song continued in the back of her mind.\n\nWhat Sidney did do as she walked was look. Her head swung from side to side constantly, trying to see anything and everything all at once, from the crowds of people swarming around them, no two of which seemed to look alike, with their feathered heads, scaled skin and gleaming eyes, to the clothes and jewellery they were wearing and items they were carryings, the stalls selling wares and the buildings they stood in front of or hung out of the windows to see their passage. Even the members of their own group, her friends and familiar figures from New Hope; majestic antlers and raven black feathers and skin like parchment. Everything she saw, no matter where she looked or how she turned her head, looked unreal and yet so vividly, perfectly real at the same time. Sidney had seen art before, she had sometimes spent hours of the day looking at hundreds of paintings and illustrations of worlds and people and things that didn't exist; whole fantasy worlds brought to life by the imaginations of incredibly talented people she could only dream of one day being as good as. But nothing she had ever seen captured in inks or paints or digital could match the depth of what she was seeing now. The reality of it all.\n\nAnd that was before she even looked up at the sky.\n\n\"I wish I had a camera.\"\n\nShe spent almost as much time looking at herself as she did everything else; her eyes, drifting every which way, always came back to the every-shifting canvas of her own skin. Her sleeve was still rolled up, her left forearm exposed as she idly ran the fingers of her other hand over the little butterfly she had drawn there. It felt smooth. Smoother than skin with supposed to be; not bumpy with goose bumps from the chill that still clung to her from waking up in a pool of water, not coated in little hairs from follicles that now seemed to be absent. Smooth like a lizards scales, maybe. When she looked closer, she could see that the surface of her skin was broken up into little, tiny plates; kind of like the scales of a reptile, except unnaturally uniform in shape and size, or maybe, given her shifting pigmentation, maybe like pixels on a computer screen.\n\nThough yellow had been the dominant colour of her palette before, as Sidney walked through the city, as she saw more sights and began to feel calmer, the colours changed; yellow gave way to pinks and oranges or various hues, darker and more vibrant in places, muted in others. Tracing the edge of a pattern with one finger, Sidney wondered what it was that caused the changes, what decided the colours, and watched as a lilac hue spread across her skin amidst the rest, followed soon after by more yellow and a splash of red as she pulled her hand away.\n\n\"Weird.\"\n\nDropping her arms to her sides and allowing her sleeve to fall back into place, Sidney looked up in time to see their group about to cross over a huge bridge; as wide as a highway and ornate in its construction, covered with vines and flowers that looked hand-crafted in how perfectly placed they were. Then her eyes dropped to the reliefs beneath their feet, and Sidney couldn't help but to finally stop and stare at what she saw.\n\nBecause of course, if everything here was beautiful, why wouldn't the art be amazing as well? Why wouldn't they use some of the most detailed carvings she had ever seen to pave their roads? Were they even allowed to walk on those? It felt like blasphemy.\n\n\"Who carved these?\"\n\nEckehart had brought them to a stop at the end of this bridge, across which sat a giant palace, the place they were to meet a princess; was the princess also the Voice, was she the one singing the sound that still rang inside her head? She probably should have paid more attention to what everyone was saying. Freyja was ready to move forward, to jump straight into things, but Sidney very much felt unprepared at the moment.\n\n\"Wait! We're meeting a princess right? Isn't there any, like, etiquette we need to be aware of? What do we call her? Do we bow?\"", "username": "King Cosmos", "char_name": "Sidney Malcolm" }, { "text": "Eckehart's smile grows positively toothy; the curve of his lips making the sharpness of his fangs quite apparent in the brightness of this night. He bows to Sidney partially, flourishing an arm towards the bridge as if to capture the fullness of it with his outstretched hand.\n\n\"Bikura of ages past, detailing the three crucial enlightenments of Yo'Bikur. The first is the wisdom of the creatures we call the Dralask, the lone wanderers of the wood, whose lonely songs were the first voices of Yo'Bikur. Before there ever were Bikura, the Dralask were singing The Song. These days they are rare creatures indeed, hermits of peace and guidance in the deep wood. The second is the grace of the mighty Tyrdania, the keepers of the River Springs. Their strength is terrible, but the waters of Yo'Bikur are sacred and they guard their springs jealously. Because of them you may drink of any waters in the Dreamlands with no fear- but be gentle should they pass. Their writings upon the waters were a mystery for many lifetimes, but eventually it was learned that they transcribed The Song upon the waters. The last was the Throat of the World, the tall peak beyond all other peaks from whom all other mountains are but roots; it is from there that the air itself is carried from the lungs of Yo'Bikur and on it the Song. From these things did the first Bikura learn; Voice, Water, and Air. It is these things we cherish still, and this bridge tells of that reverence.\"\n\nHe laughs more fully, Sidney's etiquette concerns seeming to please him greatly.\n\n\"Do what feels right; we Bikura are stewards and governors but not lords over any. We maintain the Harmony of things, and choose our leadership from amongst ourselves. Usually this is the True Voice, sometimes it is not. Address her as you wish, and if she takes offense she will let you know. If you wish to know, I call her simply 'Princess', most 'Rulania', and her brother, whose own name is Ralek, calls her 'Lania'. I bow, but most do not unless it is their culture to do so. Use whatever greeting is appropriate to yourselves and she will be delighted.\"", "username": "Fading Memory", "char_name": null }, { "text": "Rowan Moore\nInteracting with: Ambrose: @psych0pomp Audrey: @Gisk Eckhart and Freyja: @Fading Memory\n\n---\n\n\nAs Ambrose had suggested, Eckhart confirmed that the object Rowan held was a moonstone. She took another careful look at inspecting it from every angle. She had no idea what this etched stone was before it was explained. So how did Ambrose know? Rowan didn't have him pinned as someone knowledgeable in stonework. Perhaps she underestimated him, but there was no way she would admit to that.\n\n\"...that moonstone is the symbol of one such group of like minded individuals. They are wise in their own way, and their matron's power comes from her home world and not of the Song itself. She must have divined your presence in some way, take it as compliment and invitation.\"\n\nIt was a compliment indeed. Rowan gazed at the moonstone one last time before slipping it into one of her belt pouches.\n\nRowan bowed her head with a smile to Eckhart in thanks. She had many more questions to ask and to say to the man. But he seemed occupied fielding the group's questions as it was. Which left her mind to wonder about the explanation he gave.\n\nThe people in this land seemed transfixed by this song, even Rowan was following its tune without fully realising it. Did it carry some religious significance in Yo'Bikur? It clearly carried some divine power with its ebbs and flows. So would a group that doesn't draw power from the song be considered heretical? From the way Eckhart regarded them, this clearly wasn't the case. In fact, assuming Rowan was being mistaken for one of these individuals, the unusual reverence from the crowd would mean they are highly regarded.\n\nIf this moonstone gift was to double as an invite, it was one she would be eager to accept when the time arose. \n\nAnd what did he mean by home world?\n\n'Questions for another time...'\n\n\"As for his trinket... That is, I believe, a child's toy meant to be given to good friends...\"\n\nRowan was taken out of her pondering when she heard Ambrose had been given a kids toy. She couldn't help but giggle to herself.\n\n\"Well when you go to partake in the sacred soup, make sure to grab the kiddie meal eh Ambrose?\" While Rowan spoke in a joking tone, it didn't carry any mean-spirited intent.\n\n\n\n---\n\n\nRowan followed the etchings on the bridge. The deer she had seen earlier instantly caught her attention. The flicker she had seen earlier that day must have been some way of her peering through the veil into this world. Then the snake rose from a waterfall which she couldn't help but associate with the lake. And finally, a light peering from a mountain. That was happening now. All these events grew more recent chronologically as they drew closer to their destination and the tune became louder in her head.\n\n\"Aud, do you believe in destiny?\" She picked up her voice a bit to welcome others into the conversation. \"These stones have been here a long time. But if I didn't know any better...\"\n\nEckehart pauses here, and faces the group.\n\n\"Are there any other questions before we make audience with the princess? She has been waiting for you, all of you, for a very long time.\"\n\nQuestion answered I suppose\n\n\"...If what I'm hearing is Rulania, and you're saying it is, then I just want to cross as fast as possible.\" Freyja says quietly, a small blush filling her cheeks. \"If she's been waiting on us, then I'm ready.\"...Ever hasty, that Freyja.\n\nRowan came up and stood beside Freyja, if a little further back. \"I'm ready as well. I assume it is rude to keep royalty waiting.\"", "username": "Jumbus", "char_name": null } ]

[ { "text": "The cobbled street colloquially called 'Market Lane' begins at a corner, where it splits off the main road up the hill to the Communal Meeting Hall. The prominent structure at this juncture is none other than the Hoar Grocer, with its centuries-old and intricately carved wooden frame. The roof is said to have been the hull of the original wagons brought by the Hoar family in the pioneer days, and over the generations the family has maintained and brought its structure into aesthetic and cultural heritage with carving and painting the heritage of the town upon it. \n\nOther stalls and vendors, in preparation for the Festival, have been erected along this cobbled street in front of homes and the local café. At the far end of the street lies one of the town's two restaurants.\n\nSometimes when one wishes upon fate, fate conspires to answer.\n\nToby finds herself in, perhaps, the busiest place in the town on this given day. Despite the Hoar Grocer itself being cleaned out, the festival permits the villagers to set up their stalls and barter openly; this means that nearly one third of the village was currently walking this street and being an obstacle to her mission. On top of that all, as the throng of familiar faces maneuvered around she soon found herself in the sights of a vicious little crow indeed. If Toby isn't too overwhelmed then perhaps she may notice in time to flee, but indeed it is the young Odaya Bilica, youngest sibling to the tormentor Weasel at eight years of age, whose deep red eyes find Toby in her moment of desperation.\n\nManifesting as if from some foul nightmare, the raven-haired girl weaves through the crowd to suddenly be at Toby's side. Staring up at her with a sharp and tangible alertness.\n\n\"...Whatcha doin'?\" She asks in a drawling tone, jabbing at Toby's side with a finger. \"You're always so boring... Are you doing anything fun? It'd better be something fun. Because... I'm bored. I want to play.\"\n\nWhere Odaya was, her brothers were often not far.", "username": "Fading Memory", "char_name": null }, { "text": "William pedaled on his bicycle as fast as he could, Granpa was right! the bakery did indeed need all the help they could get at this time of the year, only Christmas and San Valentin got this kind of demand that he even asked William to go deliver things at people's stalls. Thankfully this was the last, going through town was a workout and even with all the usual energy he almost didn´t make it to his final target.\n\nAlmost.\n\n\"Delivery! Some empanadas, enamorados and a pierna\"\n\nAfter accepting the greetings, money, well wishes for his grandpa, and goodbyes he drove his bike to the nearest bench and slumped on it to regain his breath.\n\n\"Welp, time to go back for mor- Hey isn't that Toby?\" Man, she looked a little lost, no time to dwindle then, better help a friend.\n\nWith a smile on his face, he started the little trek to the girl-\n\n\n\n-only for it to be almost wiped from his face at the voice of the younger Bilica.\n\nUghh from all the people it had to be her, William considered himself pretty easy to get along with but Odaya Bilica was just so mean all the time he just chose to avoid her -and her siblings- as much as possible, but leaving Toby alone with her was a big no no, the girl didn't have a mean bone in her body to fight back and if Odaya was here then her brothers couldn´t be more than a few streets away.\n\nBetter to get involved then.\n\nHe ran towards the with as much enthusiasm as he could manage (a lot since he actually liked interacting with Toby) and called as loudly as he could \"Hey Toby! there you are! come on you promised to help with my deliveries\" Saying so he tried to motion to the girl to follow him back to his bike, his eyes shifting momentarily to Odaya to make it clear why he was lying like this.", "username": "Teyao", "char_name": "William Mencia" }, { "text": "Toby knew she was weak- though, perhaps that wasn't quite the right word for it. Weakness implied a sickness, a defect within her that diminished whatever higher potential there could ever have been. It was a word of capitulation, of admitting one's bankruptcy of strength. The issue, however, was that Toby knew that wasn't the case. There was a sense of will, an impulse within her that drove her forward, that pushed her past her cowardice and allowed her to attain something of value. The reality was not that she lacked any strength at all - it was simply that, for whatever reason, she didn't want to be strong. There was a part of her - she knew - that accepted her passivity, that crowed and longed for it, even. Was it cowardice? No- it was something else entirely.\n\n\"... Because... I'm bored. I want to play.\" \n\nIt's fine, Toby internally mused, as her body merely froze in place upon the sight of Odaya. Don't reject it. Don't try to run away. What point is there in that? Isn't this just fair? Don't you deserve this? You shouldn't pretend like-\n\nHer train of thought was shattered by a familiar, warm voice.\n\n\"Hey Toby! there you are! come on you promised to help with my deliveries.\"\n\nWilliam. It was so... like him to interfere in something like this. \n\nIn the end, despite the poison that lurked and snapped inside her mind, Toby knew that his presence was a lifeline for her- an opportunity to ignore that malicious taint for a higher, brighter aim. There was no contest, no ofuscation at that point. Paper beat rock, her friend's subtle plea beat her own pathetic complex of self-flagelation. \n\n\"Coming.\" she simply replied, turning to William's direction with a flat expression on her face.", "username": "myrkwise", "char_name": "Toby Springer" }, { "text": "The little crow's sanguine expression swiveled to follow Toby towards her newfound path of least resistance. In brisk, bouncing, steps the young girl skipped at Toby's side.\n\n\"Ooo! He can play too. Hey, Bread Boy, I want to play a game!\" She shouts towards William. \"Or are you boring?\"\n\nShe seems to mentally register the reason for this diversion as they approach William and she lowers her voice to a more conversational level rather than yelling over the crowd.\n\n\"Aw, wait. Chores? Boring. Boring boring boring. Just like Big Z-\" The Bilica nickname for Weasel; they would never call him that themselves. \"- and Gav; chores.\" She makes a sour expression and sticks her tongue out as if tasting something nasty. She promptly begins to ignore the two despite having tailed them briefly, and swivels on her heels to look around the crowded streets.\n\nShe almost looked deflated enough to warrant pity. Almost.", "username": "Fading Memory", "char_name": null }, { "text": "Rowan Moore\n\n---\n\n\nThe chances of Rowan showing up at Lake Chartreuse today were slim at best. She uncharacteristically looked forward to the festival despite her introverted nature. But she didn't want to go near it while it was still being prepared. The surprise of seeing it all suddenly in bloom gave the festival a magical quality in her mind. This was also one of the few town events that her mother didn't expect Rowan to have a hand in; the break was much appreciated.\n\nEven the wildlife around the lake wasn't as appealing this time of year. If the noise hadn't scared off a lot of the animals already, just about half the town running about the lake would do the trick. Anything left would undoubtedly be keeping a keen ear out for danger. Rowan loved observing nature when it was undisturbed by outside influences, even by herself. So the lake was off the table and she was in need of a more isolated spot to roam. Thus, Rowan found herself wandering the Weeping Sam.\n\n\n\n---\n\n\nThe Weeping Sam held many gifts for those who knew how to find them, mostly untouched due to superstition or general fear of the woods. Rowan trailed through its midst in sleek black hiking boots, careful to ensure nothing of import was trampled underneath. The underbrush of a forest can contain a vast ecology of insects and small plants, not to mention budding saplings yet to grow into more significant members of the wider forest community.\n\nRowan forwent her usual coat due to the summer heat. Instead, she opted for a white dress shirt with rolled-up sleeves and a pair of brown jeans. She held her notebook in one hand and the other free for shifting stray branches. Finally, her camera hung down from the strap around her neck. All and all it was light carrying for the girl, she would typically prefer a bite to eat and another book or so. But the coat was impractical and she didn't like backpacks very much.\n\nComing into a brief respite from the thicket, Rowan stood before the first thing that caught her attention thus far in the journey. A rotted elm lay fallen in a small clearing. This area was familiar to Rowan, so a landmark like this surprising her could only mean it happened recently. It was an unmissable chance to study.", "username": "Jumbus", "char_name": null }, { "text": "The Weeping Sam\n\nThe Elm tree was eighty feet tall, by swift estimation. Its rotted state is revealed by the break in the tree's core; the once great deciduous plant had swayed and splintered at a point roughly eight feet off the ground. This meant that a significant portion of the tree had fallen and snapped through the canopy of its nearby brethren, cascading the destruction of its own fall into an avalanche of broken branches and fallen leaves. Such is the way of nature.\n\nThe standing portion of its stump is coated in a rising colony of broad-capped mushrooms, climbing atop one another along the north side of the dead tree and forming the facsimile of a staircase up its surface. Considering her familiarity with the region and the timeline of these things, she can ascertain that the rot must have been set in for quite some time and that the mushroom colony had already begun forming before the inevitable collapse.\n\nIn this spot of the Weeping Sam, Rowan experiences a strange sensation in the wake of the fallen tree; the canopy, shattered as it is and broken apart by the death of the forest giant, is opened and allows a much greater amount of sunlight through than is typical of the dour forest. Rather than the dappling of visibility through a canvass of leaves, Rowan witnesses the forest floor in plain, unhindered, sunlight. The tumbled Elm further has broken open the earth, and already has begun to reconstitute itself into the forest ecology with the assistance of the mushrooms- as well as other forest entities.\n\nWhen she first enters the clearing, she seems unnoticed by a female deer who is making great progress in stripping the upper boughs of their moss and lichen. If Rowan had to guess at a cause of the tree's death, it was the seemingly suffocating layer of ivy that had amassed in its upper branches- ivy that was now feeding the herbivores of the forest floor.", "username": "Fading Memory", "char_name": null } ]

[ { "text": "Once he was sure they were out of earshot from the little girl he let himself release a sigh, truth be told he felt a little bad for so blatantly escaping from the younger girl's attention with Toby in tow but he knew the girl wouldn't let them go until she saw them squirm, even worse if any of her siblings got involved. \n\nTurning around once they reached his bike he directed his attention to the girl at his side, he hadn't seen Toby since Grandpa started getting an uptick in orders a few days ago but that wasn't a reason to not catch up, for all he knew she could have gone in an adventure all by herself!\n\n\"Hey, Toby! how ya doin'? I was delivering a few things around here for the bakery and saw you so I decided to say hi - Hi by the way!- and ask what you been doing lately\"", "username": "Teyao", "char_name": "William Mencia" }, { "text": "\"I...\" Toby began, though she quickly scrambled and hesitated over what to actually say. What could she tell him - that she'd spent the past week in a fugue of self pity over her own failure to perform well in the exams? That would just be self-gratifying. \n\n\"Things are fine, I guess,\" she shrugged. \"You?\"", "username": "myrkwise", "char_name": "Toby Springer" }, { "text": "Light oozed in through the cracks of the curtains of the bedroom. That wasn't what woke Ambrose up. It was instead his mother pounding on his door. \"Ambrose Win Hightower the Second,\" she barked out. He knew that his entire name meant trouble. So, he rolled over and glanced at his fancy, digital clock. The time was displayed in a lemonade yellow against a cloudy background. Shit. It was late. His head felt like an anchor was tied to his brow. It tried to keep him attached to his pillow, but he pried himself out of the cool comfort of his sheets. \"I'm up!\" he responded.\n\n\"As you should be. It's summer, and I will not tolerate a layabout son.\" There was a clink of ice cubes against a glass as her heels tapped away from the door. \n\nAmbrose stood, stretched, and caught his reflection in the large mirror in the corner. He flexed, pursed his lips, and gave himself a wink. The sleep wasn't shaken off that easily, but it was enough to propel him to the shower, then in front of yet another mirror, and into a change of clothing. Clothing that might have seemed like a bit much for the middle of summer, but being wealthy meant that the temperature outside didn't affect common style. He looked like he was ready to hop aboard a yacht, any yacht, and so decided to head to the docks. If he made his rounds in New Hope, his mother couldn't find fault in him. The docks first, then maybe further in town for lunch—errr dinner—and then back in enough time to catch up on his shows. He had to stop binging things until the wee hours, or his sleeping patterns would never get fixed. \n\nHe pulled up next to the lake to see everyone milling about like ants excited about a Cheeto having landed on their hill. Right. Duh. Preparations for the Summer Festival abounded. Right. Ambrose cracked a wide smile. This was all part of his plan. It wasn't instantaneously made up on the spot to appease the masses and make him look like a good Samaritan. He parked his silver Volvo and strolled up, hands in his pockets.\n\n\"Alright! Who needs a big strong man to help them move things?\" He laughed. \"I'm kidding. I'm not big at all, nearly single-digit body fat.\" The joke was only funny to him. It was a humble brag if anyone ever heard it. This is probably the reason why there was a certain citizen of New Hope that disliked him. And as far as Ambrose was concerned—it was just Weasel. Everyone else loved him.", "username": "psych0pomp", "char_name": null }, { "text": "Rowan Moore\n\n---\n\n\nComing into the clearing, Rowan held her hand above her eyes and peered up into the hole in the canopy. The light shone through powerfully forcing the girl to squint for a second and avert her gaze. The sun was indeed bright. That was a simple fact but one all too easily forgotten under the gloom of Weeping Sam. Rowan didn't mind however, the diverse scenery is the exact thing she hoped to find.\n\nIn the absence of shade, the fallen tree lay exposed to the sunlight it once protected the forest floor from. The undergrowth was quickly responding to the large, rotted meal that fell in it's lap. Insects patrolled the ground around the plentiful harvest and picked at what they could grab. All the while, recent vegetation sprouted from the giant's trunk to fight over who basks at the top.\n\nThe fungi at the elm's stump seemed to have already been eating at the tree for quite some time. But they weren't a parasitic kind of mushroom; meaning the culprit had yet to be found in Rowan's amateur autopsy. Her eyes followed the tree's mighty form from the base up toward the top...\n\nHoly shit...\n\nRowan had just taken notice of the deer. To be this close to one without it noticing was nothing short of a miracle given her obliviousness. It could only be chalked up to the blessing of a soft footstep.\n\nRowan's heartbeat rose notably and a smile began to take her face. She was only 10 or so meters away, closer than she had ever been to a wild deer before, and by complete accident too! But she made quick work of suppressing the excitement that was currently flooding her mind. This was no time for celebration yet, it could spook the deer off. \n\nBreath in.\n\nBreath out.\n\nA renewed calm brought Rowan's body to a standstill. She slowly reached for her camera and carefully adjusted the flash to be off. Examining the forest floor, a patch was easy enough to find without too many dried branches and leaves. Rowan took a knee there to get a steady position. Raised her camera to eye level and, with some hesitation, pressed the button.", "username": "Jumbus", "char_name": null }, { "text": "Lake Chartreuse\n\nThe paved asphalt road ends at the crest of the last small hill of the village before it reaches the lake itself; Ambrose parks there and has to walk down a cobblestone lane to reach the dock area itself. The path branches and a handful of other buildings stand along the lake's edge in relation to the dock- such as the fishery itself- but for the most part the lakeside is an unimpeded sightline and source of beauty for the entirety of the village.\n\nAs he approaches, he sees many of the village's adults joyously- or, at least, enthusiastically- at work. Lanterns of various sizes and shapes are being made, some in a traditional fashion and others just bouts of random inspiration or creativity. The significance of these papercraft lanterns, and the origins of the festival itself, have been thoroughly lost in time to the myriad myths and stories of the modern day; the most commonly shared myth on the subject is one that claims that the stars in the sky would twinkle out and die if the lanterns were not lit on the night of the Festival.\n\nAt the dock, he witnesses the hustle and bustle of Freyja Hoar's benign antics. The ceremonial raft was almost completely decorated by now, and it seems that a short break was in order.\n\n\n\nHis words and appearance draw attention but, in a standard fashion for the bespectacled girl, it is Freyja Hoar who takes charge of any offered grunt labor. She whirls upon the dock and hoists the young Stig to her shoulders. The toddler plays with her hair in his ever-quiet manner, and she doesn't seem to mind him pulling her braids loose one bit; her white hair tumbles into a lightly tangled wave over her shoulders as her brother does this.\n\nShe places two fingers to her lips and whistles at Ambrose, lifting her other hand to wave at him to get his attention. A two-pronged attack on his senses to ensure she successfully grabbed his attention.\n\n\"Alright, mister Single-Digits,\" She teases good-naturedly, calling out to him from the dock. \"Since you're so strong, come give us a hand with the raft.\"\n\nShe was an athletically inclined girl herself, no slouch when it came to physical things, and was particularly renowned for the speed with which she ran- and while her stamina was the limitlessness of youth, it was clear to Ambrose when he looks in this direction that the elders she was working with were all tired and more or less trying to save face by keeping up with Freyja's work speed.\n\n\"All you've got to do is lift the central beam into place and hold it steady; I'll secure it into position. Then we can begin decorating the mast and we'll finally be done. Think you can handle that?\"\n\n\n\n---\n\n\n\nThe Weeping Sam\n\nShe raises the camera. Her caution is rewarded; the deer does not immediately notice her still.\n\nShe snaps the photo-\n\nThe instant her finger presses down upon the activator, the deer's head snaps up. It stares at her, framed in the foliage of the leaves and broken boughs. In the instant of darkness of the camera-blink, Rowan experiences an odd sensation. The breeze kicks up and tickles the back of her head with its movement. Within that impossible instant of blackness of the camera readout or shutter click, a strange image burns itself into her mind.\n\nThe deer, but not as she saw it. It was larger, the doe's body longer and more broad, the dappled coat on its body deeper and thick- almost in the manner of a boar- but with deep glowing veins visible along the ridge of its spine. Its fore shoulders were far more broad and the glowing veins seemed to coalesce about them like spider's webbing, framing the broad neck and thin head in an almost eerie glow. A strange, wide, orifice rested into the dimples of those broad shoulders, almost like recessed hunches with leather-like lids that moved with some extra-muscular implication. Perhaps, most unsettling of all, was the deep blackness of the eyes.\n\nBut in the same eye-blink instant the image burned into her mind, it faded. For a moment, their eyes meet and nothing happens. The deer merely stares at her. Then, as if answering some unheard signal, the doe bolts; she leaps over a nearby shrub and in a blur disappears into the gloom outside the clearing.", "username": "Fading Memory", "char_name": null } ]

[ { "text": "Toby shuffled awkwardly in place, hesitant on what she should say. Glancing up at the sun, she knew she still had time to spare… And it had been a while since she'd hanged out with Will…\n\n\"I… Sure,\" she replied. \"Do you want to see if Audrey might be around?\"", "username": "myrkwise", "char_name": "Toby Springer" }, { "text": "Rowan Moore\n\n---\n\n\nNot again... Rowan thought to herself as a rare yet familiar sensation washed over her. The breeze brushing past her neck is a short-lived omen as the deer's distorted image flashes in her mind. Its broader form resembles the body of a dog or wolf more than anything with hooves, while its eyes and antlers resemble a plant or insect if anything natural at all. Such a distorted form hit an unsettling uncanny valley in Rowan's mind. Though it lasted a moment, it would be committed to her memory for the rest of the day.\n\nRowan considered seeing a psychologist about such a thing. It always caught her by surprise when this kind of thing happened, however rare it was. And she would have almost gone through with that idea if such mental phenomena weren't localized to areas such as the Weeping Sam. Perhaps it was a mix of low light, gloomy atmosphere, and general superstition of this place that had her mind played up from time to time. That made enough sense to her at least.\n\nLightly shaking her head, Rowan closed her eye and softly pinched the bridge of her nose to get make sure her head and eyes were on straight. Looking back, out of the daze, she could only see the fleeting form of the deer disappear into the woods. \"Well, see you too I guess.\" The girl mumbled under her breath.\n\nThere was still plenty to explore around here anyway. Rowan imagined she had about a good half hour's worth of wildlife to study in this place alone. Maybe she could practice making a few sketches and take a sample back in a small mason jar she had tucked in her pocket.\n\n\n\n---\n\n\n\nAbout fifteen minutes in Rowan finds herself kneeling in the process of sketching a broad-capped mushroom by the stump. A reasonably amateur but methodical drawing session is suddenly interrupted by the sound of cracking wood. Rowan was not alone in this clearing.\n\nTurning her head, the girl's confused and anxious frown turns into a humble smile that welcomed a friend. Despite being taller, a mix of kneeling and Audrey's elevated position had Rowan craning her neck upward to get a good look at her company. Only a brief moment passed before she decided to fold up her book and stand up to greet Audrey, brushing off some loose dirt on her pants.\n\n\"You're a bit off the beaten track, no?\" Rowan joked. \"Are you sure you know how to get back alright?\"", "username": "Jumbus", "char_name": null }, { "text": "Audrey Springer\n\n---\n\n\n\nAudrey jumped violently, landing back on her feet almost a yard away from the log, facing Rowan. She had to glance down to understand what had just happened, and when she did, she rubbed a hand over her cheek, relieved if embarrassed. \n\n\"Jesus fuck, Row,\" she said, \"I about shat my pants. And what about you? Just as far out as me, aren't you? What're you, collecting ingredients for potions? Giving up on science and becoming a witch? I'm telling you, it's the way to go.\"", "username": "Gisk", "char_name": "Audrey Springer" }, { "text": "Rowan Moore\n\n---\n\n\nRowan stood patiently watching Audrey jump back in shock. She even managed a muted chuckle upon seeing her friend finally gather her bearings on the situation.\n\n\"That was quite a few questions...\" She trailed off. \n\n\"Well, science is just witchcraft that actually works. So you could say I'm doing a bit of both.\" She replied then reached for something in her back pocket. \"As for getting lost, I'm not at much risk of that. But I do keep this for good luck.\" Rowan pulls out a small compass and shakes it around a bit to show it still works.", "username": "Jumbus", "char_name": null }, { "text": "Ambrose tugged a bit on his collar as the sun—seemingly always to be oppressive and bright—beamed down on him. A soft shiver ran through his spine as he felt the tiredness of his morning slough off of him. It wasn't as peaceful as he made it seem, his face contorting into an uncomfortable scowl before he snapped back when a whistle commanded him.\n\nHe waved before he knew who had made the noise or required his attention. Much like a golden retriever ready to fetch a ball, he sprung to attention and jogged over to Freyja. He always thought that was a weird name, but there were many strange folk in New Hope. An amalgamation of peoples from everywhere thrown together like a haphazard pour of jellybeans. Ambrose wondered what the name meant, if anything, and why there was a useless 'j' in the middle of it.\n\nWhen he approached, he noticed the disarray of her hair and the child atop her shoulders that had caused it. Ambrose tried not to make a face. Children were allowed to be messy and erratic, but he kept his distance from their antics. His belongings were too expensive to be soiled by tiny, grubby fingers.\n\n\"I said, almost single digit. Single digit implies dehydration on my part, and then your skin gets puckered and tired-looking. And I'm too young to be called 'grandpa.'\" He laughed, finding a complex, bougie problem to be hilarious. It would be noted that the townsfolk didn't give two shakes of a stick.\n\nHe glanced over at all the exhausted, older workers and wondered where exactly they came from. Did the retirement center let out early today? Ambrose shrugged. \"Sounds easy enough. Though fair warning, I've never been on a raft before. Mostly just yachts and a few story party boats. But you point me in the direction of what a center beam is and where it goes, and I'll hold it.\"\n\nAmbrose wasted no time as he followed her back to the cadre of withered workers, smiling all the while. A lot of people put up with him in New Hope, but he knew that the older the denizens got, the less they gave a shit about keeping their opinions to themselves.\n\nTAG(S): @Fading Memory", "username": "psych0pomp", "char_name": null }, { "text": "The Mencia Bakery\n\nThe bakery was alive with a panoply of scents. It was a wonderful exclamation point in the dry smells of the summer air; the warmth and softness of the bread smell rushed out the door as David opened it. The inside of the bakery was lit by hanging lantern lights (electric, not hand-lit) that were holdovers from past renovations of the building. The foyer had a comfortable atmosphere to it, with its wide windows and display shelves- though seating was limited, a gentleman's agreement to keep the nearby cafe as a dedicated gathering spot with the bakery merely being a stop on the way for the locals.\n\n\"Come in.\" The gentle voice of Enrique Mencia wafted out on a breeze of dough-goodness. His voice was coming from the back kitchen, but in just a few moments the wizened figure appeared at the front counter. He pulled gloves off, dusted his hands on his apron, and fixed a gentle smile laden with a subtle anticipation upon David. \"Ah, just the young man I was hoping to see today. How are you, David? You should be out relaxing with all the other kids, not holed up indoors laboring for little old me.\"\n\nIt was clear that he genuinely meant what he said, but also was deeply appreciative of David's efforts as well.\n\n\n\n---\n\n\n\nLake Chartreuse\n\n\nAmbrose's initial dialogue warrants a raised eyebrow from Freyja, who shifts her weight to the side and places her hand on her hip as she appraises him and his words.\n\n\"Mmm. Genuine hydration enthusiast, Ambrose, to my rescue.\" She laughs a strong laugh, then lifts Stig up off her shoulders and sets him on the ground. She glanced aside to a nearby elder and seemed satisfied that the toddler was being watched, before rising back to her full heigh and idly combing a hand through her hair as she turned to lead Ambrose along the dock. \"Well, a raft is certainly nothing so grandoise as a yacht. I'll admit that. But... I bet none of your yachts or party boats were key to keeping the demonic realms sealed away.\" She wiggled her fingers at him to emphasize just how dang spooky the idea was.\n\nAt the end of the dock was the Ceremonial Raft of the Summer Festival. It was large, for a raft, but still probably utterly unimpressive to Ambrose's high standards. What this raft lacked in size and innate grandeur, it made up for in decorative and cultural iconography. The raft was essentially a floating platform/stage, the edge of the raft accented with a decorative crenellation of papier mache. This castle-styled wall decor obfuscated a step up onto the central platform, where two elaborate and old arches were being temporarily supported by ropes. They were lacking the central beam to unify the separate pieces and complete the moon-shaped architecture on the platform. Vines, flowers, and hand-woven wreathes have been interwoven on the arches' wooden beams. Freyja gestured to the dock, where a large support beam laid. A local fisherman moved, anticipating helping Ambrose- but whether Ambrose tried to show off and heft the beam by himself or accepted help, he wouldn't get a rise out of Freyja. The girl was focused on her task, and with his help she would soon have the base of the support beam lashed to the raft and soon be in the process of lining the arches up with it.\n\n\"Well, it may not look too impressive at the moment, but once we finish up today and we hang the tapestry up, you won't even be able to see this beam anymore, and when it floats out over the lake--\" She pauses at that, and looks up at Ambrose with a lopsided smile. \"Well, this year they asked me to do the ceremony, so when it floats out over the lake I'll be out there with the old bell and the silly shrine costume and have to do the dance to appease the demons of Lake Chartreuse.\"\n\n\"It's not silly.\" One of the nearby fisherwives chortled, sifting through rolls of fabric in a basket. Freyja laughs comfortably, but the woman shakes her head. \"It's important. Can't have the lake waking up, no ma'am. You'd better do your best for all our sakes.\"", "username": "Fading Memory", "char_name": null } ]

[ { "text": "Damon Howard\n\n---\n\n\n\n---\n\n\n\"And that's a wrap!\" Carlos called out as he clapped. He was a sizeable middle-aged man at 6' feet. He had a beer belly going on, but there was definitely some muscle there too, especially in his arms. He had a warm Mediterranean complexion, and his thick dark brown hair had quite some grays in it already. There were laugh lines on his face which betrayed his friendly disposition.\n\nCarlos Linares often helped organize events like this. For the Summer Festival, he'd been overseeing a group of volunteers as they prepared to help out re-enact the sealing of the Chartreusean demons. Some villagers even believed it to be an actual resealing. \n\nAnd sure, Freyja would have the starring role in that. Each year, the Fontaines picked who the most appropriate person was, based on the alignment of the stars, and spiritual energies, and who knows what else. Though, credit where credit was due, when Damon had watched her practice, he'd thought she'd do very well. \n\nToday, Freyja was away helping build the ceremonial raft – also very symbolically important. But these past few weeks, she'd often been right here in the town's enclosed sport's hall, going through the ceremonial dance, and prepping for the real thing.\n\nThe point was, even though she'd do the main part, there was still a very involved side-procession; first on the water in two-person boats to accompany the big raft, then on foot along the lake's shore and further inland. Damon might just be one among the several supports, and it was a small-scale production all in all, but he was pleased to be involved nonetheless. Proud too, though he didn't like admitting that one. \n\nAs Carlos called an end to the day's rehearsal, the participants dispersed into smaller groups to chatter and clean up. Damon, who was the only one around his age there today, was mostly left alone. Honestly though, he was pretty damn tired, and didn't mind missing out on some socialization just then. His breathing was laboured, and he'd sweated a lot. His clothes clung to him, uncomfortably sticky.\n\n\"Pheeew,\" the boy breathed out, and went to sit at one of the spectator benches. Off to the side, some refreshments had been set up, including bottles of water; blessed, precious water.\n\nHe grabbed one, closed his eyes, and gulped down almost the whole half litre in one sitting. He'd drunk it so fast, he was forced to cough a bit at the end there.\n\n\"Hola! You ok there?\" Carlos came by, looking down on him kindly.\n\nDamon nodded. \"Yeah. Thanks.\" He wiped his mouth with the back of his palm, and looked up at the older man with a tired smile. \"So? We all pass?\" He asked jokingly.\n\n\"Si, si,\" the Spaniard nodded, good-natured. \"And you! You did good. Muy bueno! Glad you're on the team,\" the man grinned, and reached out to ruffle his hair.\n\nThe adolescent scrunching up his nose in faux discomfort, even though he secretly enjoyed and appreciated the gesture. Carlos chuckled and let him go.\n\nMore people gathered at the refreshments, and Damon too picked a home-made oatmeal bar and some fruit to nibble at.\n\nAfter they were finished with the clean-up here, they'd all go up to the Shrine, to help sort out the various other props and start transporting them over to the lake.", "username": "SilverPaw", "char_name": "Damon Howard" }, { "text": "Rowan Moore\n\n---\n\n\nRowan gave a clever smile back to Audrey when she made the remark about making her own luck. She liked the concept of that; however rarely it comes to pass. Rowan was a firm believer in taking sure steps as opposed to risky leaps that may land her in trouble one way or another.\n\nRowan proceeded back to finish the final drawing for this area. It was of one of the parasitic vines toward the peak of the fallen tree. Her study wasn't close to being concluded, but she thought it would be best to start wrapping up. She had little interest in boring Audrey with the in-depth investigation and its details. Besides, the fallen tree wasn't going anyway. There was even some value in coming back once its state of decay had advanced.\n\n\"Hey, do you know which of these shrooms could kill a guy?\"\n\nThis question was not much of a shock to Rowan. She knew Audrey well enough to know it was just a wandering curiosity. It was just a shame that even a request to know the edible mushrooms would be met with the same answer. 'I don't know'. Rowan was only an amateur mycologist and only had good guesses on what was around the tree. She lacked the confidence to be conclusive. But that left some excitement for when she could get home and look them all up.\n\nStill, 'I don't know' is not a fun answer.\n\n\"Any mushroom can be pretty lethal with enough quantity. Even white buttons, if you were to eat your body weights worth of them.\" Rowan joked. Then returned to drawing in her notebook. \n\n\"I don't think I'll be much longer here.\" She notes without breaking focus from her sketch. \"Did you want to kill some time in town? Or continue exploring? I'm alright with either.\"", "username": "Jumbus", "char_name": null }, { "text": "Ambrose tried not to look aghast at the thought of a simple raft \"keeping the demons at bay.\" Though the color drained out of his evenly tanned face. Anyone that knew that young Hightower man would know that he was wildly superstitious. The more supernatural it seemed, the further he wanted to do with it. Someone had witnessed him scoop spilled salt in his hand and throw it over his shoulder once. Mostly because it blew into a woman's face and screaming commenced as salt in the eyes was not a pleasant sensation. So, he tried to keep his superstitions to a minimum.\n\nHe followed her, looking over the boat as they moved towards it. The entire affair reminded him of certain ceremonial displays he had seen in museums or preserved landmarks whenever he and his mother would visit Ambrose Hightower the First. They represented something far away and not at all to be found downtown in the small, rural town he currently called home. He'd lived here for several years, but never really taken part in the festivities. Usually, he was abroad during the summer. This one had been different as his parents had both become too busy to plan or fund such a trip. So, here he was. \n\nThere was a sort of a reverence held by the townspeople that made him keep his hands firmly rooted in his pockets and his feet one right in front of the other. As if one foul move would ruin the entire celebration and send demons clattering onto the docks with unbridled fury. He refused to be the bull in the china shop that released the End of Days upon the Earth. \n\nHe glanced down at Freyja as she admitted to being the star of the entire song and dance. Ambrose nodded in approval, as if it was warranted or wanted. When the older woman sniped that it wasn't a silly tradition, the chills returned back to his spine. \"I don't want to think about the fact I've been swimming alongside demons,\" he said. A wince bubbled up at the edges of his smile.\n\nAmbrose focused on the fisherman with the beam, not wanting to think about the literal hell that was their lake. While he may not have been the sharpest knife in any drawer, he wasn't stupid enough to throw his back out by refusing help. With a bit of grunting and sleeve rolling, they were able to get it up, and there Ambrose held it still. This is the part he'd show off. He had the stamina to hold something heavy for a while. There were implications there, but the ones that crossed his mind mostly had to do with highlighting his strength and balance. Not that he couldn't be a horny teenager, but his brain was too busy making sure that he didn't sweat too hard. He didn't want to lose grip. His feet bit into the ground below as he became oddly silent with the task at hand.\n\nIt was then that an inflatable tube man of a boy came up, floundering about like a fish begging for water on the shore. Ambrose wasn't too interested in him now, as he seemed to beeline to Freyja. Maybe he had a crush? And speaking of crush… the beam was trying to do that to his spine. Yet, Ambrose's thoughts ricocheted away from muscle strain when he heard the other remark on his height.\n\n\"Dude…\" he grunted, \"we're like the same height. \" He exhaled. \"You can help if you like, but don't throw me off balance. The lake demons will eat us, otherwise.\"\n\nTAG(S): @Fading Memory @PerfectThought", "username": "psych0pomp", "char_name": null }, { "text": "Seeing the phone ring a few more times and then die he couldn't help but break the silence.\n\n\"Well, Audrey doesn't seem like she is gonna respond, probably forgot her phone or forgot to charge it, you know how she can be sometimes, ha ha ha\" Wait, if she finds I was making fun of her at her back she will go off on me again \"But let's, ah, let's think of something else okay? Like where should we go looking for her?\"\n\nSmooth as always Will, smooth as always", "username": "Teyao", "char_name": "William Mencia" }, { "text": "Toby scrunched her nose in mild concern, but ultimately shook her head.\n\n\"There's no point...\" she muttered. \"Is there anywhere you'd like to go?\"\n\nShe hoped Will would have a better idea, frankly. All of her own ideas nowadays were just turning to crap.", "username": "myrkwise", "char_name": "Toby Springer" } ]

[ { "text": "Audrey Springer\n\n---\n\n\n\nNot one for daydreaming, Audrey was ready to catch Sydney by the shoulders, but the girl righted herself before colliding. \n\n\"Doin' good. Literally, if you count breaking up a Bilica squabble. Oh, Syd, listen,\" she smacked her friend excitedly on the arm, \"There's a dead tree fallen in the forest. It's got all kinds of mushrooms and bugs and shit eating it. Very, like, 'ashes to ashes,' you know? Thought you might wanna draw it or something. Rowan did, but y'know, more of a Darwin's journal scientific sketch. I can show you tomorrow, if you like.\"\n\nCosmos", "username": "Gisk", "char_name": "Audrey Springer" }, { "text": "Brown L. Cheeseman\nBrown blinked thrice. Then a fourth time, just to be safe. He didn't know a great many people with cars his age. He didn't know a great many people his age, but irrelevant. He certainly didn't know anyone remotely his age with such a nice car. He was far less shocked by Ambrose changing his shirt than he was when Ambrose pulled it out of his car. He feared his expressions would be visible on his face, and interpreted as rude. So he quickly turned his shocked face back to a polite smile. He began to respond, choosing to ignore the possibly passive jab and instead focusing on the other parts with a smile on his face, \"Yeah I'm somewhat new around here, my family hasn't been here for generations, but I've been here most of my life.\" He gave a short chuckle, \"My mum is one of the teachers round here. Miss Cheeseman. But no, I don't think I've heard of a Miss Hightower. Does she have a different name?\"\n\nBrown closed his eyes for a moment and tilted his head, givning a sincere smile as he began to wander up the street, hoping Ambrose would follow suit. Brown was warming to him, though he seemed slightly airheaded and privileged he liked the strange sincerity that could be attributed to his interesting form of 'intelligence'. He blinked thrice geometrically as he thought he spied a group of familiar faces up the road and slowly trundled that way, observing the fabulous decorations and stalls that accompanied the festival.", "username": "PerfectThought", "char_name": "Brown L. Cheeseman" }, { "text": "There is a moment in every person's life when they are given several options they had to choose from, for William this was this moment, he felt the burning curiosity at whatever the older man was talking about and what they seemed so secretive about it but a look back at his companion made him reign himself, Toby was reacting badly to whatever they were talking about and if he insisted they investigated she would likely take it even worse, he didn't want the normally nervous girl to get even more so.\n\nGiving a last look at the retreating back of the Bilica elder he directed his attention to Toby once more with a smile.\n\n\"Wow, I didn't know Mr. Bilica and Mr. Howard were such good friends! Is nice knowing they seem to be so close enough to be hanging up in the festival together, hey it's kind of like us!\"\n\nFoot meet mouth, ugh sometimes he wished he had a better filter, what else could he say, he didn't want to leave it at that.., Oh right.\n\n\"Hey Toby I just realized I have been kind of dragging you along to Mount Bilica, do you really want to go or would you prefer to wait here for the Festival to start? I get to spend time with a friend so I am cool with both dude\"\n\nIt was at that moment that he felt his phone vibrate slightly notifying him of a message.\n\n\"Wait for a second please just got a message\"\n\nReading it quickly he was torn again between two options again but it was through sheer force of will that he managed to prevail against his childish impulses.\n\n\"Yo new phone, who dis?\"\n\nHe\n\n\"Okay right, so what do you say Toby, stay or go?\"\n\n@King Cosmos", "username": "Teyao", "char_name": "William Mencia" }, { "text": "Bilica Nonsense - Isaias Bilica\n\n\nAudrey makes her points, then makes her exit; Odaya watches her go, swaying where she stands, as does Isaias Bilica from beside Damon- otherwise, once she's no longer a potential issue she is largely disregarded by the Bilicas. Weasel rises up from his knee and brushes his pants off. The trio of lesser brothers exchange looks as if about to speak, but are silenced by a glare from Weasel.\n\n\"Alright, freakshow. Fancy quotes. Clever words. I'm not an idiot; you can talk circles around me... But I do have a pretty good quote of my own.\" Weasel laughs a rumbling laugh, before snapping his fingers- halting Isaias in his tracks, and thusly temporarily forcing Damon to listen. Isaias frantically looks between the two, that familiar storm broiling in his eyes. Weasel continues, \"If Is starts to sound even remotely like you, you're gonna be eating those fancy words.\"\n\nWeasel and his three brothers will thusly depart into the Festival at Large\n\nIsaias grumbles under his breath, then turns and trudges along with Damon. After a moment, Damon points out the boy's shame.\n\n\"I fell.\" He snaps at Damon. \"Off the path. Into the Sam.\"\n\nHe sniffs once. Indignant.\n\n\"The tree I hit looks worse.\" He concludes, bitterly, as if he somehow vanquished the branches that struck him out of pure spite. \"Let's just get ready.\" He broods, clearly wanting to focus on the upcoming performance.\n\n\n\n---\n\n\n\nDavid, Rowan, and Assorted Nonsense\n@Jumbus\n\nThe ball lands at Rowan's feet. David makes his invitation. The situation is so simple- yet so very not simple all at once, for without warning or herald suddenly the toddler of Stigandr Hoar appears at Rowan's side and quietly picks the ball up. His white hair is combed neatly, and how he escaped his mother's arms is a mystery- but no harm could befall him in this place with these people, the scarce population of 300 all knew the child's parents intimately and each other as well. Stig looks up at Rowan and silently offers her the ball.", "username": "Fading Memory", "char_name": null }, { "text": "Rowan Moore\n\n---\n\n\nRowan spent a bit of time wandering, before stumbling upon an impromptu crowd. It's not as if there was any stall in the middle, so the sight piqued her curiosity. She was surprised to see it was a group of teens around her age playing some ball game. It was not one familiar to the girl but it was an interesting display. She decided to stick on the sidelines and watch for a while.\n\nThen the ball rolled right toward her feet.\n\n\"Hey Rowan!\" He noticed her among the crowds. \"How are you doing? Do you want to join us?\"\n\nOh no. Rowan was not good at being put in the spot. Finding some response needed to be quick. She didn't want to join. This was nothing against David, she enjoyed the guy's enthusiasm, but she was bad at soccer and didn't enjoy ball sports in general. Still, she couldn't just say no, could she? That would be mean, and she didn't want to be mean to David. Plus everyone around was watching, there were far more eyes on her than just David. But she couldn't embarrass herself by failing at the game in a miserable faction.\n\n\"...\" Through the absolute turmoil caused by the simple question, Rowan just stared blankly for a moment with a discerning brow. To an outsider, the signs of this life-or-death decision would be unreadable.\n\nAs she had her eyes on David, it took her a while to notice something bump against her leg. Looking down, she noticed Stig had been offering the ball to her. But there seemed to be no sign of his mother around. With a sigh and a smile, Rowan took a knee to get as close to eye level as she could to Stig. \"Well, thank you for picking that up for me.\" As she let him pass the ball to her.\n\nRowan was quick to toss the ball back to David. \"Sorry David, maybe next time. I think this one is a little lost. Plus, I'm sure you have plenty of players already.\"\n\nShe then turned her attention back to Stig. \"Do you want me to help you back to your mum? I heard there is a big performance happening soon and I'm sure she would want you there.\" Rowan tried putting on a 'talking to kids' voice. She wasn't very good at it, but there was an honest attempt made.\n\n@Fading Memory", "username": "Jumbus", "char_name": null }, { "text": "Sidney Malcolm\n\nBilica squabble? Urgh, whatever Audrey was talking about Sidney was glad she arrived late enough to miss it; that was a silver lining even if she would have preferred not to lose track of time as she had. Of course her friend would find herself in the middle of it as well, but it sounded like things went well enough, this time.\n\n\"A dead tree? I don't know…\" It was sweet of Audrey to think of her and her art upon seeing something she thought was cool and Sidney was always happy to be given a fresh source of inspiration, but this one kind of missed the mark. A dead tree just made her think of rotting wood, little pill bugs crawling all over it and dark, shadowy vibes. The thought was enough to make her scrunch her nose up; maybe some other time she would have been into it, but that kind of scene was completely at odds with the kind of colourful stuff she wanted to draw right now.\n\nAlthough… if mushrooms were starting to grow on it, then maybe it wasn't as dreary as she was imagining; she didn't know her way around the woods like Audrey did, but she was pretty sure some of those mushrooms could be pretty colourful. Her look turned thoughtful, and then she began to smile. She could just picture a bunch of brightly coloured fungus growing out of an old stump and a fallen log; a dull, grey under layer with a vibrant, psychedelic forest growing on top of it. Like something out of Alice in Wonderland. \"Actually, yeah. Yeah! That sounds great. Thanks for telling me.\"\n\nFeeling her phone vibrate in her hand, she turned the screen over to see the return message from William. \"Sorry, it's William. Let me just text him back.\" Really? 'New phone'? That joke was so old.\n\n\"Nevermind. I found someone cooler to hang out with.\"\n\nTake that.\n\n\"So, do you want to get some food? I haven't eaten all day.\"\n\n@Teyao", "username": "King Cosmos", "char_name": "Sidney Malcolm" } ]

[ { "text": "Ambrose's eyes fell on the man that approached them. He stated, simply, a sentence that Ambrose couldn't glean heads or tails of. \"Oh boy, none of those words are in the Bible.\" Then the man, Eckhart if to be surmised, started to walk away. Ambrose felt the draw to follow him as everyone else did. Maybe it was the lemming part of his brain. \n\nWeasel spoke to him, and he shot an odd glance at the now-large-ape-boy. Yet, his skepticism wasn't wasted on Ambrose's ears. He nodded along. \"Fair. I guess being transported to Narnia can call a truce on whatever beef was between us before.\" Not that Ambrose knew what was. He just knew that Weasel disliked him, thoroughly, and it had caused Ambrose to respond in kind. His webbed fingers played with a rubber band that had shown up in his hand earlier. He had been overwhelmed by new senses to the point that he didn't know who or what had deposited in his grasp—or if he had just materialized with it. He knew one thing; he was not about to put it in his hair. This was a lot of hair, and rubber bands were not kind to it. He'd dealt with having his cousins, when they were little, deciding to band his hair up as he was napping. It was such a traumatic experience removing them that Ambrose wished it on no one. So, he instead pocketed it—surprised and delighted that his pants had them.\n\nEveryone walked along, probably too stunned by what was happening to really bring up what had happened before. Yet, it was all Ambrose could think about. He was glad that Freyja was alive and well, even if he was unsure if antlers would be the best for walking through doorways. Brown seemed fine. Rowan seemed to not pay him any attention. Audrey didn't give him a mention either, but then again, she didn't owe him that. None of them owed him attention. Instead, he just walked along, ruminating on the panic he'd had. He hadn't dived directly into danger like Brown. Nope, he'd frozen like a coward. He'd lost his ability to breathe and fell to his knees. Ambrose did a check of his pockets again. It would be foolish to think his meds would have traveled with him. Then again, he also had gills—what could be conceptualized as breathing? He was starting to get a headache.\n\nA mutter through the group about a song caught Ambrose's attention. He hadn't heard anything like that. Yet, when he stilled his mind, there it was. Freyja had mentioned a beautiful lady singing. Ambrose just heard a choir. So, afraid that his brain song was broken—he shrugged. \"Sure.\"\n\nHe then looked out at the landscape as they walked. It was unlike anything he'd ever seen before that hadn't been painted on the side of an 80s wizard van, and even then there were things that didn't make sense. \"Oh shit, those birds have four wings,\" he muttered under his breath. \"Birds don't have four wings right?\" he asked before sucking back the question. \"Kidding, of course, they don't.\" He laughed, nervously. \n\nAs they pushed into the city, people were passing like Moses had parted the seas themselves. A lot of Christian references today, Ambrose thought. Maybe he was just trying to remember where the dragons were in the Bible. He felt something pressed into his hand. When he glanced up, a woman with a large cat-like face bowed away. A smile on her long, sharp lips. He glanced at it. It was… a… something. It looked like a two-sided spoon trapped in a ring and tied to a ribbon. Ambrose jangled that around for a bit before narrowing his eyes at it. His attention was drawn to how Rowan seemed to be the pull of everyone's attention. She disappeared for a second before coming back into the group. There was something cradled in her hand. In a hushed tone, she asked what it might be. \"Looks like a moonstone to me,\" Ambrose offered, remarking on the celestial visage carved into the rock. \"Sorry, bad joke. I don't know. I barely know what this is.\" He jangled the weird spoon thing at the rest of them. \n\n\"Am I supposed to wear it around my neck? Double up on the spoons? Is this a soup-based culture?\"\n\nTAG(S): @Fading Memory @Jumbus", "username": "psych0pomp", "char_name": null }, { "text": "David Liang\n\n---\n\n\nDavid tried to ignore Damon's remark, which he regarded as pretty much useless given the situation. Yes, he knew that they were the missing one, you dope! He wanted to know who was with him and who did not get taken over and had a makeover. He could chalk it up to confusion and fear, as this was just as overwhelming or even more so for the rest as it was for David. In fact, he was a little surprised at how calm he was even with the new form and new world he found himself at. Maybe adaptability was his forte. \n\nTo his assessment, it seemed like only his friends (most of them) were present here. His father wasn't here, his friends earlier weren't here either, neither were the adults of the town. It was just the teenagers he knew and called his friends. Well, maybe except for Odaya, but surprisingly, her laugh and appearance-pointing wasn't actually mean-spirited. Quite the opposite in fact. David couldn't help but let out a smile and came to her defense when Damon retorted back at her. \n\n\"Come on now. You're a charming guy, you can take a joke or two.\" He responded, one in which those around might find a tinge bit dry and sarcastic, quite a step different from the uptight and serious David the computer guy. \n\nAs Freyja struggled to find her footings, the now metal-covered David gently held onto her shoulders to help balance herself. Once the antlers stopped colliding with his tin-foiled skins was when she received her glasses back. Her surprise at his new appearance was somewhat on par with the others, David was actually a bit amused at her response. \"Too much metal? Me too.\" He said, his dry jokes continued. \"Probably should have touched grass more in my life, I guess.\"\n\nWhen Eckehart introduced himself, many of his words flew over his head. Rulania, The True Voice, what the heck do those mean? He could sort of understand the New Year part; this land appeared to celebrate the same kind of New Year that the people on Earth do? But as for anything new, he just kept it in his memory (literally) in case it came up later. But he was prompted to follow them, something he thought he'd have to do anyway, as there was practically zero information about this world. With each step lumbering with the sound of wood and metal beneath him, he kept up with the group into the city, all the while the song continued to play in his head. The city was grand, majestic, clearly beyond his imagination, but what caught his attention more was the behavior of these...humanoid citizens? They had a very peculiar symbol that matched what Eckehart had. Was this some sort of citizenship marker? Or something else. They were also bowing down to him, as if he was some sort of kings or heroes to be revered and respected. He did say honored guest after all, but this was a bit weird. David then felt something being handed to him, by a man with an elongated head and cylindrical nose, which was a bit creepy at first glance. Looking down, he noticed a purplish sphere, small enough to be covered within his palm, glowing under the nightsky of this new world, surrounded by a golden ring. He had no idea what this was supposed to be used for, or even what the item was.\n\nDavid looked around if there was anyone having the same kind of items. Next to him was William, someone David knew more than others, so he gladly leaned over to check up on him. \"Hey man, glad to see you have the better end of the makeover.\" He said with a wave before holding up the item he was given. \"Do you have one of these as well?\"\n\n@Teyao@Fading Memory", "username": "Conscripts", "char_name": "David Liang" } ]

[ { "text": "David Liang\n\n---\n\n\n\"Haha, I do not know man. I feel a bit weird hearing the rattling within me. But at least I look on point.\" David laughed, holding his hand out open to make the point. Indeed, he was the computer guy according to everyone, informatics were his undisputed best subject, and someone would say that he was a bit too serious for his own good. A robotic avatar would be just as expected as Odaya going around town causing trouble. \n\nHe did appreciate his friend's genuine compliment though, and as a result his strides grew a bit more confident and firm. Looking over at the item that was given to friend, the tin-covered David leaned his head a bit. \n\n\"Yeah, it does give that vibe.\" Was his response, before Eckehart explained the items given, though it leaned more towards giving an overview instead. The item changes color depending on luck? It's purple at the moment. What the hell does that correlate to? He had no idea, he was never the superstitious type. If only whatever his brain is equivalent to (hard drive? SSD?) had that information at hand, but the transformation probably did not affect much body functionality in all the important senses.\n\n\"Hmm, that'll be useful later. I hope I can read more on that somewhere.\" He said to Eckehart. Knowing the luck of the moment was indeed a very princely gift, as risks and rewards are always tied to the fates. And thus David put away the stone, albeit in a very typical fashion. A small part of his lower arm parted outward, opening a small storage space for him. It felt a little harrowing knowing that this would have been his flesh and blood if it hadn't been for this transformation, but he had to get used to that too.\n\nTurning over to William who got the explanation of his item, David nodded with his lips curled. \n\n\"Given that, you look more like those angels in movies. They always have a holy object without fail.\"\n\nThe wings look very much on point as well too.\n\n---\n\n\nThe bustling city view gradually shifted upwards, the scenery soon to be replaced with a gigantic palace, piercing through the skies, it was so high that David couldn't even see its end, and he would lose his balance in trying. The Song also began to clear itself of the disturbances of the city, growing louder and louder, but yet not deafening or uncomfortable. It was as if something about this palace here resonated much with it.\n\nIt was the palace of the royals, according to the informative tour guide, and there lived a princess longing for a friend finally. He could feel a little bit just from hearing that, but he still knew very little of it. Taking the group away to be her friend is a little questionable though, as it was clear from Audrey's voice.\n\n\"Let's not jump to anger, shall we? Despite all the reasons to.\" David said. There's nothing worse than antagonizing the one who could bring you back home. \"We'll see what the princess has to say. And who knows, maybe the way home is as simple as just asking nicely.\" His words weren't directed at anybody, but it could feel a bit like a jab.\n\n@Gisk", "username": "Conscripts", "char_name": "David Liang" }, { "text": "Audrey's words seem to strike Eckehart in a strange way. His eyes widen, and he is put on pause. At last he begins to-\n\nHe pauses, Ambrose's meandering musings seeming to interrupt or otherwise warrant a full-brain assessment as he speaks. After a few moments he appears to appreciate the distraction, but clearly tunes Ambrose out after realizing that his words carried many syllables but little meaning.\n\n\n\nDavid's final statement brings Eckehart out of his reverie, and the pale man clears his throat to regain the attention of those present.\n\n\"Is that all to say that you do not know how to return to your world?\" He sounds somewhat surprised- as if this was greatly concerning, but he was delicate and possessed of enough charms to not make it sound like a horrendously ludicrous affair.\n\n\"Not a clue, matchstick.\" Weasel speaks at last, having decided on a nickname for the fire-haired herald.\n\n\"How then did you arrive?\" Eckehart asked, folding his arms against each other and sliding his hands within the long sleeves of his cloak as if for warmth. Freyja lets out a humming sound and stamps a foot as if in thought;\n\n\"Well, it was the festival time, and I was doing the Sealing Ceremony. I first heard The Song when I rang the bell, but the raft and the bell weren't there when we woke up in the pool.\" She was about to continue speaking, but Eckehart makes a sound and interjects.\n\n\"A bell? Describe it to me.\" And when Freyja does, his eyes widen for a moment- but then he nods and returns to a relaxed state. \"Oft, special bells are crafted in matching sets here in Yo'Bikur. They are called Resonance Bells, and they call to one another through the weaving of The Song. They are used to travel great distances. It sounds like your home is in possession of one such Resonance Bell. If that is the case, all you must do is ring its match here and you will return home.\"\n\n\"Oi, that's hogwash.\" Odaya chimed, feathers rising. \"We didn't show up at any bell, we showed up all soggy-like and wet in a pool.\"\n\n\"That is, indeed, a strange thing little one.\" Eckehart agrees. \"And now that all is clear, your friend's anger is more than justified. You have my apologies, young mistress, for all of this is peculiar and I did not think anything out of the ordinary until now. I will take it upon myself the task of searching for your matching bell, should the princess not have any insights.\"\n\n...All the while, Alycia's fear faded and was replaced by a potent wonder and amazement. She finally feels safe enough to leave Aleyn's side, and drops to her knees to study the carving of the Tyrdania closely. She reaches out and traces its outline with a finger, slow and deliberate, until its size escapes her reach and she looks back up at Eckehart.\n\n\"It's beautiful.\" She said, simply, and her earnestness seems to bring a full smile to Eckehart, along with a welcome distraction from the seriousness at hand. Eckehart laughs, a pleasant thing, and nods.", "username": "Fading Memory", "char_name": null } ]

[ { "text": "Oh, Toby is doing fine, that's good, she seemed pretty sad when the teacher gave the results for the exams last week even though she scored pretty high (I got a C and pas pretty pumped about it), maybe talking will get her to relax a bit more.\n\n\"These last few days have been brutal! I have been around the whole town like four or five times making deliveries for Grandpa, people love the traditional bread that he makes for these festivities and they never seem to get fed up with it, not that I am complaining tho, more business for the bakery is always good and doing so many deliveries means Grandpa gives me some extra allowance\"\n\nNot that everything was good\n\n\"Not that everything is good, I haven't had the time to hang out with Syd in ages, and the few times I have been free she is always busy with other things... welp what can you do? So Toby, I just finished my last run and I got a bike and a desire to spend time with a friend, so what do you say, wanna hang out for a bit?\"", "username": "Teyao", "char_name": "William Mencia" }, { "text": "Audrey left the house quietly while her parents still slept. They had both had a late night; her mother from serving drinks at the bar, and her father from drinking half of them. She hopped on her father's Mustang. It was her father's in name only, as Audrey was the primary driver ever since his DUI last year. Instead of starting the engine, she disengaged the parking brake, and let it roll down their long, sloped driveway, swerving around her mother's Corolla with practiced grace, and backing neatly into the street. Here she did finally start the car, a reasonable distance from the house so that she hoped it wouldn't alert her parents to her departure. She didn't want to get entangled with either of them, and ruin her summer freedom. \n\nAs she pulled down their side street toward one of the town's main roads, she put her flip phone on speaker and dialed. \n\n\"Hey Aud,\" a tinny, crackling voice came through. \n\n\"Hick, got any work for me? Even just one?\" \n\n\"Sorry, sweetheart, but I usually just extend everyone's loans around the festival. People get forgetful, you know? Just trying to give them one fewer thing to think about.\" \n\nAudrey,  who had been hoping that same forgetfulness would translate into pocket money for her, grimaced but kept her tone light. Hickory Earhart was a very nice man, and she wanted to stay on that side of him. \"Alright, I understand. But if anything comes up, I dunno, like you need shelves moved or something...?\" \n\nHickory was perfectly capable of moving any shelves he needed moved. More so than Audrey, truth be told, but he didn't say so. \"You'll be the first I call.\" \n\n\"Right, thanks Hick, you're good people.\" \n\n\"You too, enjoy the festivities, should be a good one this year.\" \n\nAs she ended the call, she wondered what festivities she was meant to enjoy without any money. Her mother always gave her gas money out of her tips from the bar, but Audrey would never ask for more. She knew an allowance just wasn't in the budget. \n\n~~~ \n\nShe turned the car away from festivities(many of which were, in fact, quite free) and instead toward the edge of town. One of the roads that led to the nearby highway had a small paved parking pad on the side of it. Just three parking spaces, in faded white lines, and a sign marking a trail into The Shaded Grove. The trail was generally disused, including today, when Audrey walked right off it and into the woods, heading for the heart of the Weeping Sam. \n\nAudrey wasn't dressed the best for the adventure. Her boots, at least, were functional, if well scuffed Doc Martens, but she wore constricting skinny jeans. On top, she had what had once been a plain black T-shirt, but she had bleached a spooky face onto the front, and cut and tied it at the sides until it was a raggedy sort of tank top. \n\nShe walked with her hands in her pockets, not sure where she was going, nor exactly why she had come here. Presently, she came to a certain fallen, rotting tree and, not yet noticing that she wasn't alone, she lifted her foot up and kicked in some of the soft, spongy wood.", "username": "Gisk", "char_name": "Audrey Springer" }, { "text": "David Liang\n\n---\n\n\nDavid's morning was rather boring. He was no person to laze around inside for too long, but rather he was lazing around in the Armstrong Computer Shop. Now that the final exam period had ended, he could spend time more consistently to help out the Armstrongs with their day-to-day woes with machinery. But unlike the constant demand of food or drinks, computing service was not always so. Sometimes, things just work, and for David, that meant less work to do. He yearned to be out and about, hanging out and catching up with those in class, but he had one client he would need to take care of. Enrique Mencia from the bakery. He reportedly had a non-functional laptop, but he had a lot of work to do for the festival preparation, so he postponed it until now, so David couldn't really go anywhere until this one was finished. Luckily, it was almost time. \n\n\"Mr. Nicolas.\" David called out to the person inside a storage room, his supervisor of sort. Nick was more friendly and casual than that, but considering the boy who didn't know his way around the language that well, he was fine with being a little formal. He poked his head out of the door to hear what David had to say. \"Is there the toolbox in there?\"\n\n\"Oh, yes.\" He disappeared back in for a brief second before coming back out with the box he required, knowing why he was asking for it. \"Enrique right?\" Nick asked, to which David nodded. \"Awesome! Tell him I said hi.\"\n\n\"I will, don't worry.\" David gave a smile. \"Oh, and if you don't mind. Can I take my day off after this one?\"\n\nNick looked up and leaned his head slightly before nodding. \"No problem, I think we can handle the workload for the rest of today. Go and have fun ok?\" \n\n\"Thank you. You too, the festival's starting soon.\" David bowed, and looked to his father who was immersed in his own work in his own corner. \"See you dad.\" He said before heading off with the kit and a little piece of paper as he headed off to the Mencia Bakery. \n\nThe village was bustling with exciting activities. Everyone was busy but many had a smile to spare as David strolled along the street with his stuff. They knew he was part of the Computer Shop, some of them he had helped before, so he was no strangers. He would love to join them to help out or just to hang out, but he continued onto his destination nonetheless. \n\n\"Hi. Mr Enrique?\" The door to the bakery opened slowly, as the boy poked his head in. \"It's David.\"", "username": "Conscripts", "char_name": "David Liang" }, { "text": "Toby shuffled awkwardly in place, hesitant on what she should say. Glancing up at the sun, she knew she still had time to spare… And it had been a while since she'd hanged out with Will…\n\n\"I… Sure,\" she replied. \"Do you want to see if Audrey might be around?\"", "username": "myrkwise", "char_name": "Toby Springer" }, { "text": "Rowan Moore\n\n---\n\n\nNot again... Rowan thought to herself as a rare yet familiar sensation washed over her. The breeze brushing past her neck is a short-lived omen as the deer's distorted image flashes in her mind. Its broader form resembles the body of a dog or wolf more than anything with hooves, while its eyes and antlers resemble a plant or insect if anything natural at all. Such a distorted form hit an unsettling uncanny valley in Rowan's mind. Though it lasted a moment, it would be committed to her memory for the rest of the day.\n\nRowan considered seeing a psychologist about such a thing. It always caught her by surprise when this kind of thing happened, however rare it was. And she would have almost gone through with that idea if such mental phenomena weren't localized to areas such as the Weeping Sam. Perhaps it was a mix of low light, gloomy atmosphere, and general superstition of this place that had her mind played up from time to time. That made enough sense to her at least.\n\nLightly shaking her head, Rowan closed her eye and softly pinched the bridge of her nose to get make sure her head and eyes were on straight. Looking back, out of the daze, she could only see the fleeting form of the deer disappear into the woods. \"Well, see you too I guess.\" The girl mumbled under her breath.\n\nThere was still plenty to explore around here anyway. Rowan imagined she had about a good half hour's worth of wildlife to study in this place alone. Maybe she could practice making a few sketches and take a sample back in a small mason jar she had tucked in her pocket.\n\n\n\n---\n\n\n\nAbout fifteen minutes in Rowan finds herself kneeling in the process of sketching a broad-capped mushroom by the stump. A reasonably amateur but methodical drawing session is suddenly interrupted by the sound of cracking wood. Rowan was not alone in this clearing.\n\nTurning her head, the girl's confused and anxious frown turns into a humble smile that welcomed a friend. Despite being taller, a mix of kneeling and Audrey's elevated position had Rowan craning her neck upward to get a good look at her company. Only a brief moment passed before she decided to fold up her book and stand up to greet Audrey, brushing off some loose dirt on her pants.\n\n\"You're a bit off the beaten track, no?\" Rowan joked. \"Are you sure you know how to get back alright?\"", "username": "Jumbus", "char_name": null } ]

[ { "text": "The Mencia Bakery\n\nThe bakery was alive with a panoply of scents. It was a wonderful exclamation point in the dry smells of the summer air; the warmth and softness of the bread smell rushed out the door as David opened it. The inside of the bakery was lit by hanging lantern lights (electric, not hand-lit) that were holdovers from past renovations of the building. The foyer had a comfortable atmosphere to it, with its wide windows and display shelves- though seating was limited, a gentleman's agreement to keep the nearby cafe as a dedicated gathering spot with the bakery merely being a stop on the way for the locals.\n\n\"Come in.\" The gentle voice of Enrique Mencia wafted out on a breeze of dough-goodness. His voice was coming from the back kitchen, but in just a few moments the wizened figure appeared at the front counter. He pulled gloves off, dusted his hands on his apron, and fixed a gentle smile laden with a subtle anticipation upon David. \"Ah, just the young man I was hoping to see today. How are you, David? You should be out relaxing with all the other kids, not holed up indoors laboring for little old me.\"\n\nIt was clear that he genuinely meant what he said, but also was deeply appreciative of David's efforts as well.\n\n\n\n---\n\n\n\nLake Chartreuse\n\n\nAmbrose's initial dialogue warrants a raised eyebrow from Freyja, who shifts her weight to the side and places her hand on her hip as she appraises him and his words.\n\n\"Mmm. Genuine hydration enthusiast, Ambrose, to my rescue.\" She laughs a strong laugh, then lifts Stig up off her shoulders and sets him on the ground. She glanced aside to a nearby elder and seemed satisfied that the toddler was being watched, before rising back to her full heigh and idly combing a hand through her hair as she turned to lead Ambrose along the dock. \"Well, a raft is certainly nothing so grandoise as a yacht. I'll admit that. But... I bet none of your yachts or party boats were key to keeping the demonic realms sealed away.\" She wiggled her fingers at him to emphasize just how dang spooky the idea was.\n\nAt the end of the dock was the Ceremonial Raft of the Summer Festival. It was large, for a raft, but still probably utterly unimpressive to Ambrose's high standards. What this raft lacked in size and innate grandeur, it made up for in decorative and cultural iconography. The raft was essentially a floating platform/stage, the edge of the raft accented with a decorative crenellation of papier mache. This castle-styled wall decor obfuscated a step up onto the central platform, where two elaborate and old arches were being temporarily supported by ropes. They were lacking the central beam to unify the separate pieces and complete the moon-shaped architecture on the platform. Vines, flowers, and hand-woven wreathes have been interwoven on the arches' wooden beams. Freyja gestured to the dock, where a large support beam laid. A local fisherman moved, anticipating helping Ambrose- but whether Ambrose tried to show off and heft the beam by himself or accepted help, he wouldn't get a rise out of Freyja. The girl was focused on her task, and with his help she would soon have the base of the support beam lashed to the raft and soon be in the process of lining the arches up with it.\n\n\"Well, it may not look too impressive at the moment, but once we finish up today and we hang the tapestry up, you won't even be able to see this beam anymore, and when it floats out over the lake--\" She pauses at that, and looks up at Ambrose with a lopsided smile. \"Well, this year they asked me to do the ceremony, so when it floats out over the lake I'll be out there with the old bell and the silly shrine costume and have to do the dance to appease the demons of Lake Chartreuse.\"\n\n\"It's not silly.\" One of the nearby fisherwives chortled, sifting through rolls of fabric in a basket. Freyja laughs comfortably, but the woman shakes her head. \"It's important. Can't have the lake waking up, no ma'am. You'd better do your best for all our sakes.\"", "username": "Fading Memory", "char_name": null }, { "text": "The smile on his face could melt snow he was sure, hanging with someone was always so much fun! Oh he could't wait.\n\n\"Great! come jump into my bike and we can star searching for her, do you have any idea where she may be, forget that just point in a directon and we will be off!\"", "username": "Teyao", "char_name": "William Mencia" }, { "text": "Nathaniel Westmoreland\n\n---\n\n\n\nNathaniel Westmoreland struck his shovel into the mound of dirt gathered in one of the family's rusted red wheelbarrows. He heaved in with what little weight he had, filling up the head of the shovel to scoop out soil over the wire fence. He hated feeling his fingers clutch tight the handle of the shovel, picking up small patches of hardened dirt. He hated his white t-shirt clinging to his sweat covered back. Nate quickly shoveled a few pounds of dirt out of the wheelbarrow and into the large mud barrow. The sooner he was done with his work, the sooner he could get back to enjoying his day. Nate grit his teeth as he rolled the wheelbarrow back into the large toolshed to keep it safe from the weather, and grabbed the coiled up hose. He sprayed down the dirt in the mud barrow to keep it fresh, walked over to the connected pigpen, and sprayed water into their water trough until it was nearly full. The stench was nauseating to Nate, but his nose had become dulled to the smell of the happy pigs and their piles of manure. Even so, dealing with the fresh manure and urine was Rory's job. Nate grabbed a long hook from the toolshed and used it to unlock and open the gate between the pen and the barrow. He quickly stepped back as a couple of the more clever pigs charged forward and dove into the fresh mud to cool themselves down. He groaned as he watched a small smatter of mud plop onto the hem of his overalls.\n\nWith his chores taken care of for the morning and the pigs oinking their satisfactions, Nate made his way into the house. He ignored his mother in the living room, sitting on the couch yet again watching game shows on the tv with her foot propped up on an ottoman. The truck was absent from the driveway, meaning Nate's father must be out running errands. Nate quickly stopped by the laundry room, stripping off his overalls to apply some stain remover quickly. He took a quick shower, and changed into a simple outfit: sneakers, jeans, a plain t-shirt, and an overshirt. He didn't bother letting his hair finish dry as he quickly grabbed his backpack, slinging it over his shoulder and heading out the side door of the house. He reached for the handle of his old yellow bicycle, ignoring the old peeling paint and squealing gears as he took off down the dirt driveway of the Westmoreland farm.\n\n---\n\n\n\nBefore long, Nate rolled to a stop in front of the New Hope Library. He parked his bike in an old bike rack, not bothering to lock it. He walked in, giving a little nod of greeting to Old Hickory as the librarian was speaking into his phone. \"You'll be the first I call... You too, enjoy the festivities, should be a good one this year.\" Nate climbed up to the second floor to find his usual table near the window, cracking open a worn copy of Homer's Odyssey. His eyes drifted out the window between paragraphs, as he watched those near the shores of Lake Chartreuse preparing for the coming festival.", "username": "webboysurf", "char_name": null }, { "text": "Toby pondered the question for a bit, before pulling out her phone, attempting to call Audrey right then and there. She knew her cousin had the habit of wandering off, though, so it wouldn't be a surprise if she couldn't pick up...\n\n@Gisk", "username": "myrkwise", "char_name": "Toby Springer" } ]

[ { "text": "Everything ached but in a good way. Ambrose couldn't say that was usual. The only thing he didn't care about was the few scratches on the palms of his hands from handling the wood. They'd heal quickly enough, but for someone that had a \"moisturizing routine,\" it was a nuisance. After Freyja vaulted off, the child in toe, he found himself swallowed by the night of festivities. The goings-on of the day had distracted him from whatever his brain could pry out. Silence was the crowbar of discontent for him. \n\nHe wasn't paying attention to anyone around him or anything that might have been said in his direction as they were abandoned by his car on the outskirts of the festival. He hit the key fob and opened the backseat, peeling off his dirtied and sweated-in shirt. It was then he realized that the guy from earlier was still loitering around. More so, that he was talking to Ambrose.\n\nAmbrose stood there without a shirt on, the coolish air picking at his bare skin. It was without a blemish, scar, or other imperfection, and perfectly crafted like it'd been sculpted out of marble or some other slick, sexy rock. \"Uh. Why would I know your mother?\" Violet Cheeseman raised no alarm bells in his brain. She sounded like a character out of a children's book with that name. Then again Brown Cheeseman sounded like a rare brand of some hard cheese served at one of his mother's wine tastings. He'd gotten blitzed at a young age thinking it was a weird grape juice and scarfing all the cheese his little mouth could hold. He'd been a solid circle of a child.\n\nHe pulled his shirt over his head and slid it over his chest, it was form-fitting, allowing the warm light of the festival to leave little to the imagination regarding his musculature underneath. His shirt was a deep blue, and on it was an anime character of some kind. He didn't know who it was. One of his friends back in New York had mailed it to him for his birthday. He'd tossed it into the back of his car as an \"emergency\" shirt. It layered with his distressed khakis and sneakers quite well. As if Ambrose could ever wear something unattractive.\n\n\"Ambrose,\" he said, \"Ambrose Hightower. I'm sure you've heard of me before, or at least my mom.\" He shrugged. \"Sure, I can hang out with you. I'm surprised you have friends.\" He paused, realizing how that sounded. \"Considering I don't know who you are or your mom for that matter. Are you new to town?\" He gestured to himself. \"If we don't find your friend, we can find some of mine. Mi… uh… friends… es… su… friends.\"\n\nTAG(S): @PerfectThought", "username": "psych0pomp", "char_name": null }, { "text": "Bilica Nonsense\n@Gisk\n\nAudrey directly intervenes in the perceived bullying of Odaya; she grabs the young girl by her Jumper and pulls. Simeon and Raphael release Odaya, whirling and backing away from Audrey in the process. Thusly, Odaya is lifted from the water- triumph in her eyes as she clasps an apple in her clenched jaw, every bit the struggling-for-air superhero that she thinks herself to be in this moment. She looks briefly stunned to find herself being pulled out by someone else- not having realized the scenario she was in herself- and looks up at Audrey with wide eyes. Still biting the apple. Then, seemingly as if on general principle alone, she kicks Isaias in the shin as Audrey offers him forth. Isaias yelps and tumbles to his knees, clutching at his leg- but does nothing.\n\n\"Trade? What the hell are you doing with our brother- He looks like shit.\" Gavriel points at Audrey in an accusing manner. However, before things escalate any further, Damon appears in a cloud of flamboyance and raconteur demeanor. His words and actions warrant immense confusion from the simple Bilica boys, but Odaya finally spits the apple out and into her hands as she looked down at the jacket now about her shoulders. Perhaps unexpectedly, the first to speak and break Damon's eccentric distraction is Isaias;\n\n\"It wasn't her.\" He murmurs quietly, looking up at Gavriel. \"It was-\" As the boy rises back to his feet he pushes Odaya back, cutting himself off by leaping away from the girl and to the safety of his three older brothers' sides. Odaya snickers as he escapes her reach, and sticks her tongue out.\n\n\"He thinks I'm a Lady. That means you idiots need to obey me, because you're just farmboys.\"\n\n\"As if, you little bi-\" Raphael begins. Unfortunately he is not permitted to complete the thought. Passing by Damon and Audrey as if carried by a ghost, the domineering physique of Weasel Bilica suddenly appears; suddenly grabs Simeon and Raphael by their heads; suddenly bashes the two together; then swiftly shoves their heads into the apple trough. He lifts his gaze and silently appraises Gavriel- who immediately balks, nods, and steps aside. Whilst his two brothers struggle in his own powerful arms, Weasel turns his head to Isaias.\n\n\"Go on, Is. Freakshow's right, you've got shit to do.\"\n\nWhen Weasel releases Simeon and Raphael, they surge out of the water- and somehow, despite his aggressive entrance, the social phalanx of the Bilica Family has formed instantaneously. Gone is all the overt aggression of the lesser brothers as they cower and sneer. Even Simeon and Raphael seem somehow aloof despite the bruises forming on their brows and the soaked nature of their clothes. Weasel remains kneeling and ruffles Isaias' hair, who seems to immediately brighten. Isaias looks towards Damon, and seems calmer than he did going up the mountain. He glances at Audrey- blushes faintly- then silently moves to Damon's side with a quiet nod.\n\nOdaya sticks her tongue out at Weasel- who only seems amused, his stoic-antagonistic expression showing the mirth he allows for his little sister.\n\n\"He says I'm a Lady.\" She repeats.\n\n\"He says a lot of shit, 'Daya. Don't listen to any of it. He's an idiot. Just like her.\" He finally lifts his gaze to look at Audrey. Utter detest plain in his features- despite how truly similar they may be beneath everything. \n\nOdaya snickers, and chimes in; \"Yeah just like her!\" And she now sticks her tongue out at Audrey. She then, paradoxically, waddles over and offers the apple up to Audrey. Perhaps as thanks for the rescue. Perhaps because she didn't like apples. Perhaps.", "username": "Fading Memory", "char_name": null }, { "text": "Rowan Moore\n\n---\n\n\nHearing another person approach through the treeline, Rowan closed her notebook halfway through shading her sketch. It was just about done anyway and having another person there probably meant she wouldn't have the peace and quiet to finish. She was surprised to see her father addressing her. But perhaps she shouldn't have been. If anyone could find them out here, it was him. The smallest Bilica tailing behind him was more unexpected.\n\nDucklings? Why did her dad have to be so embarrassing? Rowan didn't see how her father spoke as much of an issue when it was just the two of them. But with Audrey around, she couldn't help but associate some of his words with a cartoon bear warning against forest fires she saw on TV as a kid. Still, Rowan gave a reluctant smile at her father's speech and went to join him on the trek back to New Hope.\n\nAs she passed, Rowan got a closer look of Isaias. He looked worse for wear, real worse for wear. She couldn't help but wonder if that bruise on his cheek as a result of getting lost or by some other means. She wasn't going to dwell on it though, and she only looked at the boy for an extended second before switching her attention back to her father.\n\nThere was a saying Rowan had and it was a rule she intended to follow. If it's Bilica business, then it's none of hers. It was a cold statement, particularly when she looked at how the younger Bilica's often wound up. But they were bad news, the less she has to do with them the better.\n\n\"I actually like the old rituals and stories, did you know there's almost nothing written down about them in the library? It's all oral history.\"\n\n\"Really? I always thought they were written down somewhere...\"\n\n\"Maybe a certain library assistant could write them down sometime.\"\n\nRowan continued to make small talk with her dad and Audrey on the way back.\n\n\n\n---\n\n\nWith the sun setting and temperatures dropping, Rowan showed up to the festival in her regular coat but few other clothing changes other than that. The festival looked great as always, the awe of the town's achievements year after year hardly faded as Rowan grew older. And yet her sense of dress on the day never seemed to match. Her choice of monochromatic and muted colours ironically made her stand out more.\n\nRowan quickly found herself slipping away from the company she arrived with. Audrey seemed to be wandering off with Isiais, likely to the other Bilica kids, and no doubt her dad would be looking for her mum to do the regular town politics. That left Rowan somewhere between the two opposite ends of town relations, just enjoying the festival.\n\nRowan went about trying out some of the various games. Most were the ones present last year, but she still found them enjoyable.", "username": "Jumbus", "char_name": null }, { "text": "Toby had watched the exchange unfold with a demeanor that could only be described as that of a frozen statue, completely petrified and unable to even think or process what she'd just witnessed. This was way above her league...\n\nWho are they talking about? Votes? What...\n\nToby gestured at Will with a worried, trembling gaze, almost shivering in fright. She... she just didn't know what to do.", "username": "myrkwise", "char_name": "Toby Springer" } ]

[ { "text": "Damon Howard\n\n---\n\n\n\n---\n\nYeah, of course that'd be Audrey's reaction. Flames of offense licked at him, and annoyance flashed across his expression. \"It's called impro, you dolt,\" he complained.\n\nThat's when Ezekiel appeared, and promptly went to bash two of his brothers heads together, and dunked them. In return for what they'd done to their sister. Damon watched the scene, disapproving but not bothering to interfere physically.\n\n\"Charming as always, Zeke,\" he commented. There was definite sarcasm there – both Audrey and the Bilicas were liable to bring it out of him even on their own. Combined? It was practically guaranteed.\n\nHe ignored Weasel's insult; just huffed, and drawled, \"I'm right more times than you think.\"\n\nAt Odaya repeating to her oldest brother how she 'was a lady', he smiled, pleased. As much as the girl was also a little shit – as much as everyone gave her a pass for it – she had at least found some genuine appreciation for his performance. \n\nAudrey did vaguely acknowledge the child's questionable behavior with her last remark. Damon didn't think the girl would get it, though. Also, seriously, a 'better' role model? He snorted. \"Look who's talking,\" he shot at her retreating back meanly, still angry with her.\n\nSticking by her or ditching her? Pick one, Audrey… he thought, but didn't say.\n\nHe looked at the gathered Bilicas. Sure, they were a miserable bullying bunch, but he did kind of have to try and cohabitate with them. His father's politicking was one reason for it. The village being way too damn small was another.\n\n\"I know it's summer and all, but if you get tired of being all wet, you could get some spares there.\" He pointed towards one of the tents in the distance, where one could borrow traditional festival clothing from years past. \"Or just, I don't know, go fucking dry it off before you catch a cold.\" Not like he wasn't saying anything they didn't know already.\n\nHis gaze passed Odaya, who was still wearing his jacket. It was light denim, black – he'd worn it mostly for the looks, so he didn't miss it much. He didn't mind it staying with her.\n\nInstead, he gave one last look to Ezekiel. \"Violence begets violence,\" he quoted. \"Ever heard that one?\" Then, figuring he'd pushed his luck far enough, he decided to leave. He gave a two-fingered salute, and turned to go with a, \"Cheers.\"\n\nHe faced Isaias, who'd been left standing by his side ever since his oldest brother had told him to do so. \"Come on, we've prep to do.\"\n\nFirst things first, the two should switch from their casual clothing to what they'd wear to the procession – but no, looking at Isaias, maybe the boy should get cleaned up and patched up first. \n\n\"You're kinda…beat up,\" Damon pointed out bluntly, because no matter how he brought it up, he doubted Isaias would like it.\n\n---\n\n\n\n---\n\n\nMemory, @Gisk", "username": "SilverPaw", "char_name": "Damon Howard" }, { "text": "David Liang\n\n---\n\n\n\"He is, I'm glad to learn that he is doing well.\" David gave a warm smile and a nod to Enrique's fatherly, or grandfatherly, jokes. He hoped to see Will again at some point. Maybe he could ask if they could meet up for the festival or something, but David continued his work for now, not wanting to be distracted. As the work proceeded, the laptop disassembled then reassembled with new parts, that thought was forgotten as a new visitor came into the bakery. He did not immediately recognize the man, but Enrique quickly reminded him. It was Tom Springer, and with him came with some emotional baggage, something something about a woman, likely his wife? \n\n\"R-Right, haha...it's umm...I'll keep in mind.\" He laughed nervously, finding it really difficult to properly respond to the weird grumble. He did not want to offend Audrey's father, but he obviously did not share the ideal, and also it took quite a bit to actually process the word play, and when he did, it had diluted in his already tired brain for the day that he could barely give off an empty indecipherable sigh. The boy silent admired the elder Enrique, who was really keeping himself composed. This must not be the first time this happens.\n\nThankfully, Tom had nothing else to do with him and just left after getting his things. It was then that he saw the sunlight gleaming off the ground. It had gotten late, the festival was about to begin. He quickly wrapped up his work and returned the laptop to Mr Enrique. \"There, the motherboard has been replaced, all your stuff should still be there.\" Quite a bad issue if he was being honest, but for that, the Mencia owner was grateful. The cupcake was a fresh cupcake, chocolate too, something he did order more than often. \"Thank you very much Mr Enrique. Enjoy the festival as well!\" He left the bakery with a big smile on his face. \n\nSince the computer shop already closed for the day, David went back to his home to put away the tool. The house was still empty by the time he arrived; his father must've already left for the festival. He set the tool down on the table in the middle of the room, knowing he'd be picking it up later anyway - a trick so that he'd never forget anything is to just lay it out where he could not miss. In the middle of the room was a picture of Wong and David at the airport. It was before they left the country to come here. David reminiscently glanced at his younger-self. His face was rounder, his eyes were brighter, but he wore the same kind of shirt he is wearing at the present day. It felt...weird, but relieved. The kid that were eager but anxious of what's to come back then...he wished he could have told him what he had found in the journey. \n\nAnd his dad too...\n\n\"Pa, hope you're enjoying yourself.\" David whispered into the picture, before taking his leave. He could change to something else, but he was in a hurry and his work attire kinda works for the less warm night.\n\n---\n\n\n\"Hey, it's David!\" He heard his name called. It was a couple of kids from up the streets, whom too were from immigrant families. It was relatively easy to get along because of that. \"Wanna join us?\" \n\n\"Sure, what are you guys doing?\" David agreed without hesitation, looking at what one of them was holding. It seemed to be a soccer ball, but it's also a lot smaller and seemed to be made of thin bamboo layers wrapped into a sphere. It gave a rather...exotic feel to it. \n\n\"Come, you'll get it eventually.\" The one holding the ball had David by the arms and pulled him into the group. The others fanned out in a circle, then the one with the ball tossed it over to another, who caught the ball with his foot then kicked it over to another person in the circle, who'd deflect it to another, then another, then another, all the while the ball never touched the ground. Until the group felt like they had demonstrated enough, who'd kick it over to David. \n\nCaught a bit off-guard, David tried imitating them, but the ball hit his foot at the wrong angle and it fell onto the ground instead. He shied a bit from the group at his mistake, but they didn't seem to care, just a laugh off before continuing. \n\n\"This feels familiar.\" He remarked after seeing it several more times. This is just like that game he always played with the school kids during break back then! Ah the memories. The next time the ball was sent his way, David tried remembering how he used to do it. Then his legs just moved on its own. \n\n\"Yeah! You got it!\" The group cheered as David made a perfect pass with his ankle-side of his foot. A few more circulations before the ball bounced back to him, in which he caught, tossed backward with his foot before swinging the same foot over to his backside, intercepting and delivering the ball gracefully over his head to another player, earning him an awe from the group. A big grin appeared on David's face as well. He still got it! \n\nThe seemingly fun little 'unofficial game' soon drew a small crowd of curious onlookers. David continued his theatrical physical performance, looking excited and juxtaposing the seemingly serious impression one might have had earlier from him. It was only when he missed the pass that he was finally brought back to Earth. The ball rolled over to the crowd, and in particular to the feet of someone he knew. \n\n\"Hey Rowan!\" He noticed her among the crowds. \"How are you doing? Do you want to join us?\"\n\n@Fading Memory", "username": "Conscripts", "char_name": "David Liang" } ]

[ { "text": "Barely a moment after sending his reply he felt his phone vibrate once more with Sidney's answer to his joke. Without wasting a second he sends back a follow-up.\n\n\"Ah this feeling of betrayal, yep that is my good ol' pal Sydney alright, soo.. who is the new victim?\"\n\nCosmos", "username": "Teyao", "char_name": "William Mencia" }, { "text": "\"Oh shit. She is my teacher.\" He playfully bonked his brow with his palm. \"I thought her name was Ms. Chessman. I'm going to be honest, the whole 'Cheeseman' thing is throwing me off. It doesn't sound real.\" Not that he could really remember what she taught or how he was doing in it. Honestly, most of his teachers seemed to tolerate him like lukewarm bathwater. Hence the reason he had a tutor. \n\n\"Nope. That's her name. I mean, unless you call her 'Mom,' too, and that'd be a little weird. But, hey, it'd be nice to have a—I'm guessing—younger brother.\" Ambrose laughed. In part because he thought his joke was hilarious, but also because there was no way that the two were related in any way. Apart from their height, they had no other similar factors. Brown looked like he was made by a child out of sticks they found on the ground. His hair was a mess. And his clothing choices didn't accent his body in a way that was flattering. Next to Brown, Ambrose looked stellar. Yet, he didn't stop walking alongside the other boy. He actually stopped, having an odd revelation while puzzling out the teacher/son/tutor relationship. \n\n\"Oh shit! You know what? You and Rowan should get together. She's mousey. You're mousey.\" He gestured to him with wild emphasis. \"I mean... like a real long mouse. Like a Cronenberg mouse. But still, definitely, a mouse.\" If one thought that Ambrose was drunk, they'd be wrong. He was entirely sober, or at least he hadn't imbibed any alcohol. This was just his personality. A bombastic collection of ideas, energy, and self-obsession.\n\nHe held up his finger to Brown as if the other boy could even begin to stop Ambrose from typing out a message.\n\n[Hey Rowan! Hope ur having a gr8 festival.] \n[Do you have a bf? B/c there's this guy I think you should meet. Brown Chessman.]\n[Where r u? I'll bring him over.] \n[*Cheeseman]\n[The name autocorrects b/c it isn't real.]\n\"And sent. So... where are these friends of yours?\"\n\nTAG(S): @Jumbus @PerfectThought", "username": "psych0pomp", "char_name": null }, { "text": "David Liang\n\n---\n\n\nRowan's refusal did put him in a little bit of a difficult spot, to either go with his classmate or stay with the group to play more balls. While neither probably would not mind if he picked one, David wanted to hang out with both. It's been a while since he had seen his friends, outside of classes...David fiddled with the ball for a moment, before the group headed over to him. \n\n\"Ya busy?\" One of the group's kid asked. \n\n\"Umm, not really, but...\" \n\n\"It's alright, we're gonna head to Suraj's house now for some games afterwards. You can always come around. Enjoy the festival man.\" \n\nThey didn't exactly pressure David, but they kinda just left without him really being able to pull their skirts, so they did make him a choice supposedly. Well, fine with him, hopefully...\n\n\"Well, uhh.\" He turned to Rowan. \"I hope you don't mind. We can look for Freyja together.\"\nMemory@Jumbus", "username": "Conscripts", "char_name": "David Liang" }, { "text": "Audrey Springer\n\n---\n\n\n\nAudrey raised an eyebrow at Sidney's answer. Or, rather, at the apparent internal back and forth before she gave it. All she said in response was, \"Cool! Maybe tomorrow, if we're not too tired.\"\n\nSidney had a brief text exchange with William, who Audrey mainly knew as another artsy friend who hung around sometimes. He was alright, but they didn't see each other much unless there was an intermediary friend, like Sid or Toby. \n\nAt the suggestion of eating, Audrey grimaced, but answered, \"Sure, if you're buying,\" without a hint if shame, pulling her pockets out to demonstrate their emptiness. \"Work at the ole mill dried up. I can getcha back in maybe a week, though. Don't let me forget.\"", "username": "Gisk", "char_name": "Audrey Springer" }, { "text": "Brown L. Cheeseman\nBrown laughed at Ambrose's mix-up. He enjoyed the charismatic honesty of the man. \"I assure you, despite it sounding slightly odd, Cheeseman is a real name. I of all should I know.\" He chuckled brightly, walking up the bustling brightly lit streets of the festival. The normally sleepy street had been converted into a colorful parade of all the town's characters for one of the few nights in a year. He shoved his sleek hands into the worn-out pockets of his jeans. \n\nAmbrose's laugh made Brown smile. As he chimed at his own joke the younger boy couldn't help but crack a grin. As he continued talking Brown listened and walked. Only stopping when the merry voice of his companion began getting further away. He turned to see he had stopped and was busily texting someone. As Brown listened the smile dropped. He listened to him talking about someone.\n\nRowan. \n\nHe knew her. Of course he did. How could he not? He knew how pretty she was. He knew how smart she was. He knew her soft features by memory, but he doubted she knew him. At all, let alone well. And at the suggestion from the matchmaker, he felt his face going red. He began talking, nervously. Then as his new friend began talking again, he was put at ease. Upon his friend's casual usage of the term 'Cronenberg mouse,' Brown couldn't help but begin laughing at the utter ridiculousness of the situation.\n\nHe had not laughed this hard in a long time. He wheezed until he could wheeze no more. And that did not stop the tears from flowing. When he could finally catch his breath he came up from his doubled-over position. \"You're a fool, Ambrose, and I think we'll get along well. As for my friend? He still has yet to show face. No doubt working late in the pub.\" He gave a slight frown at this, it was hard to hide his worry for Aleyn, but he would try to keep spirits high in his present company. He quickly fired a text to his good friend:\nHey! Not tryna hassle. Just wanted to lyk on the highstreet with a new friend. P cool guy. Lmk when ur free.\"\n\n@jumbus", "username": "PerfectThought", "char_name": "Brown L. Cheeseman" }, { "text": "Sidney Malcolm\n\nWhen Audrey grimaced and emptied out her pockets, Sidney grimaced with her in sympathy. It was never a good feeling to be low on cash, especially when the festival was happening and everyone around you was having fun and you just… couldn't. \"Oh, sure. No problem.\"\n\nCome to think of it, did she have any money on her? Leaving the house in a rush as she did, Sidney wasn't actually sure if she'd remembered to bring any with her. She checked, patting down the sides of her jacket and reaching inside to where she usually kept that sort of thing; for a moment she was worried they would both have to hungry, which would be embarrassing, but luckily she was able to find a few bills in an inside pocket. \"Yeah, okay, no problem. And you don't to pay me back; just cover me the next time we go out, okay?\" Not that there was much difference, but Sidney preferred to treat these things in a kind of 'pay it forward' way rather than hold people to a debt. It was less awkward that way; for herself as much as the other person.\n\nPutting her hands in her pockets, Sidney picked a direction at random and began to walk, trusting Audrey to follow along. \"And I'm picking where we eat. Did you see any good stalls? I only just got here; haven't had a chance to look around.\"", "username": "King Cosmos", "char_name": "Sidney Malcolm" }, { "text": "Rowan Moore\n\n---\n\n\nRowan took Stig's blank stare with a delayed nod as an affirmation. She took the toddler by the hand and looked around for where the concert stage would be. It didn't take her long to collect her bearings considering the stage was exactly where it was every year. She was about to see off before David grabbed her attention again.\n\n\"Well, uhh.\" David turned to Rowan. \"I hope you don't mind. We can look for Freyja together.\"\n\nThe others who were playing the game looked to be heading off elsewhere and it didn't look like David was joining them. Rowan didn't mind him tagging along with her of course. What interactions she had with the guy were sparse, but he seemed nice and respectful company. That was a breath of fresh air when compared to some of the other kids in town. Rowan's only concern was that trying to reunite a lost toddler with his family wasn't a riveting task.\n\n\"I'm afraid I'm not doing anything exciting. But you can tag along if you want.\" Rowan replied back with a muted but welcoming smile. \"I think Freyja should be somewhere around the stage. But I'm not sure, I don't really keep up with what happening at these things until I'm actually here.\" She joked as the two started heading toward the stage area.\n\nAs they were walking, Rowan noticed a buzz in her pocket. Then again. And again. Then twice more. Leaving her to wonder what exactly could be happening that her phone would be going berserk. Grabbing out her phone, Rowan checked her notifications to discover she had just received 5 texts from Ambrose. 5 texts from Ambrose during the festival when it couldn't possibly be about tutoring meant nothing good. \n\nLuckily my phone just ran out of power so I couldn't have received those texts. Rowan thought to herself as she held down the power button to shut it off and place it back in her pocket. She didn't like to be bothered by her phone while she was at the festival anyway.\n\n@Fading Memory@psych0pomp", "username": "Jumbus", "char_name": null } ]

[ { "text": "Aleyn Ward\n\nAleyn could only sigh in disapproval as the ceremony began. This kind of stuff didn't interest the young boy at all, not caring for any of the village traditions. His mind raced with thoughts at the various acts of disrespect that were brought upon him, always facing backlash for just being himself, the village never knowing the amount of pain and suffering that he had endured since his parents went missing. They never cared for him so why should he care for them? Aleyn could only ask himself that question over and over till his head started to throb. So much trauma for one little boy made him jaded toward things that should be fun within the town, but even in his angsty, silent tantrum, his eyes became locked on a certain young woman standing upon the raft. \n\n\"STOP STARING AT FREYJA!\" \n\n\"SHUT UP!\"\n\nA yell from behind him and a sharp tug at his shirt alerted the youngster to look down, his golden eyes meeting with the blue eyes of his tomboy baby sister. Looking like a boy, as she always did, Aleyn placed his hand on her head, squeezing tightly till the little girl cried out. She grabbed hand, trying to pry her brother's hand away. Aleyn leaned over and stared at her with a toothy smile like a mad scientist staring at his latest creation. \n\n\"Shut yer mou---\" \n\nBefore Aleyn could finish chewing out his sibling, Freyja's scream filled the air before a column of water rose to swallow her whole. He looked onward with horror and confusion whilst grabbing Alycia up into his arms, the water rose around him at such a speed that no human could possibly move. They were both swallowed up, fear racing through their bodies.\n\nYo'Bikur\n\n\"ALYCIA!\"\n\nAleyn's words went nowhere fast as his face was submerged under the lake water, air bubbles raising to the surface. His eyes shot open, and he quickly threw his head back; Aleyn's breathing matched the speed of his movements, nearly hyperventilating at the events he just went through. Fear still shooting through his body causing the boy to bite down on his bottom lip. \"Ow!\" he exclaimed as he felt a sharp pain like a blade had dug into his lips. Blood slid down his chin, Aleyn using his tongue to touch the two snake-like fangs that now protruded from the upper row of his teeth. His pupils had become slit like a snake as well, the gold coloring in his iris glowing brighter then normal. Looking downward, his eyes caught a sight that caused more confusion. His shirt was torn up to the shoulder and gave way to a snake tattoo wrapped its way around his right arm up to his neck. Weirdly the tattoo was black and scaly like a snake's skin, Aleyn visibly in disbelief at his body. \n\n\"What the fuck?\"", "username": "Taka", "char_name": "Aleyn Ward" }, { "text": "She still seems tense but perhaps a little small talk will help her relax for a bit.\n\n\"Okay dude! so did you know that almost all the old ladies across my neighborhood once challenged my grandpa to a baking contest? Yeah that is the reason he is not allowed to compete anymore...\"\n\n-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-\n\nHe had almost forgotten the traditional gathering at the edge of the Lake, he couldn't see Grandpa anywhere but he would have surely been annoyed if Will had forgotten to attend, maybe enough to punish him by giving him ... extra math problems. Suppressing a shudder at the horrifying thought he looked toward the beginning of the ceremony.\n\nFreyja really got into the role of Miko and he was impressed by how well she danced! He remembers trying some of the moves when he was younger and falling between steps or doing the wrong thing, good memori-\n\n\"What is that voice?\"\n\nA soft melody in a girl's voice reached his ears and the moment he tried to focus on it was like a spell was cast on him, he didn't notice the column of water or the panicked Hoar the Lake shallowed, ignored the people rushing towards the water and away from it, it didn't even occur to him that the vast majority of people were frozen in time with his dear Abuelo being one of them, even the girl grabbing his side felt out of focus. No, the moment he registered the singing voice all his worries simply were discarded as irrelevant and a distraction, so he didn't even have a single thought hesitated a second on walking towards the lake and entering the water, closing his eyes as the water consumed him.\n\nYo'Bikur\n\nThe moment he opened his eyes again he found himself laying on his back and strangely at peace, of course, that only lasted until he heard the confused and sometimes panicked voices of his fellow abductees. which prompter him to raise to his feet as fast as he could!\n\nOnly to trip a moment later as an unexpected weight on his back throwing off his balance and because his feet were no longer feet, instead before there were normal human extremities now stood a par of hooves that transitioned from hairy goat legs to his normal ones between. He stood a moment just contemplating the change, he knew that he should have some kind of reaction to the change but it somehow felt... natural, as if that was something that always had been there and he just didn't notice. Carefully and slowly he raised again, this time getting on his knees before standing up, once he was fully vertical again he finally fell on his back for the weird weight settled there only to receive two sensory feedbacks, one the feeling of feathers and the other of clay upon his wings.\n\nFinally giving on to his curiosity he approached the nearest pond with steps that slowly grew in confidence, looking at himself in the reflection he finally saw what the thing on his back was.\n\n\n\"Oh they are wings\"\n\nA moment later the change finally registered in his mind and chased away the strange dissonance he had been experiencing.\n\n\"OH MY GOD THEY ARE WINGS!\"\n\nExcitedly he tried to flap them and after a few seconds managed to get them to twitch and spasm before he remembered that there were others around and there was a lot to process.\n\nWith hurried steps (and silently handing who he though was Ambrose a rubber hair tie), he made his way to Sydney's side (Syd was here! and she looked like a painting!) before looking in the direction she was looking at. That was when he finally noticed the dragon. @psych0pomp @King Cosmos\n\nThat said he never noticed that his hair was moving in erratic patterns. almost like of had a mind of its own.", "username": "Teyao", "char_name": "William Mencia" }, { "text": "Once the song reached her ears, it was already over. The trance could've been a discordant scream, a painful un-melody, and it still would've drawn her in. But instead, it was a gentle tune, a kind tune. One that spoke directly to her soul, beckoned for her approach. It was not a fight, not a battle- it was there, and it was over. \n\nToby closed her eyes, and allowed the waters to envelop her, though she at least maintained the lucidity to keep a grasp onto Will beside her. @Teyao\n\nYo'Bikur\n\nVoices could be heard around her, that much was certain. Murky, muddled, and just a [i]tinge/i] of an echo commiserating within them, as if she was still underwater. Toby struggled to rise to her feet, before letting out a strained shriek. \n\nThey were... it was difficult to describe without hurling out her insides. If she even had any.\n\nHer feet were... She could barely even detect the skin on them. In some spots, they were the palest pallor of white she'd ever seen, brighter gleam than any patch of icy snow. In other places, especially near her extremities, they were more translucent than white, showing patches of her sinew and bones, along with a pale, greyish fluid that now seemed to course about her.\n\nCrawling over to the pond to desperately gleam at the rest of her appearance (noting, as well, as that even getting around was seemingly a chore), she could only stare back in half-catatonia.\n\nHer face and neck were... similarly ghastly and half-translucent as compared to her limbs. What's more, she seemed to have a few open wounds and gashes about her, and yet they seemed not to bleed, instead being dead and empty, like that of a corpse. Her hair was matted and coarse, her lips parched and split. Her eyes... they were a disturbingly milky hue of white and blue.\n\nToby suppressed the sobs that were building up inside her. What had happened to her?\n\n\n\nWith panic and desperation, she caught sight onto the others around her, lurching and trembling her way to them - perhaps they could help her fix this?", "username": "myrkwise", "char_name": "Toby Springer" } ]

[ { "text": "David Liang\n\n---\n\n\nDavid tried to ignore Damon's remark, which he regarded as pretty much useless given the situation. Yes, he knew that they were the missing one, you dope! He wanted to know who was with him and who did not get taken over and had a makeover. He could chalk it up to confusion and fear, as this was just as overwhelming or even more so for the rest as it was for David. In fact, he was a little surprised at how calm he was even with the new form and new world he found himself at. Maybe adaptability was his forte. \n\nTo his assessment, it seemed like only his friends (most of them) were present here. His father wasn't here, his friends earlier weren't here either, neither were the adults of the town. It was just the teenagers he knew and called his friends. Well, maybe except for Odaya, but surprisingly, her laugh and appearance-pointing wasn't actually mean-spirited. Quite the opposite in fact. David couldn't help but let out a smile and came to her defense when Damon retorted back at her. \n\n\"Come on now. You're a charming guy, you can take a joke or two.\" He responded, one in which those around might find a tinge bit dry and sarcastic, quite a step different from the uptight and serious David the computer guy. \n\nAs Freyja struggled to find her footings, the now metal-covered David gently held onto her shoulders to help balance herself. Once the antlers stopped colliding with his tin-foiled skins was when she received her glasses back. Her surprise at his new appearance was somewhat on par with the others, David was actually a bit amused at her response. \"Too much metal? Me too.\" He said, his dry jokes continued. \"Probably should have touched grass more in my life, I guess.\"\n\nWhen Eckehart introduced himself, many of his words flew over his head. Rulania, The True Voice, what the heck do those mean? He could sort of understand the New Year part; this land appeared to celebrate the same kind of New Year that the people on Earth do? But as for anything new, he just kept it in his memory (literally) in case it came up later. But he was prompted to follow them, something he thought he'd have to do anyway, as there was practically zero information about this world. With each step lumbering with the sound of wood and metal beneath him, he kept up with the group into the city, all the while the song continued to play in his head. The city was grand, majestic, clearly beyond his imagination, but what caught his attention more was the behavior of these...humanoid citizens? They had a very peculiar symbol that matched what Eckehart had. Was this some sort of citizenship marker? Or something else. They were also bowing down to him, as if he was some sort of kings or heroes to be revered and respected. He did say honored guest after all, but this was a bit weird. David then felt something being handed to him, by a man with an elongated head and cylindrical nose, which was a bit creepy at first glance. Looking down, he noticed a purplish sphere, small enough to be covered within his palm, glowing under the nightsky of this new world, surrounded by a golden ring. He had no idea what this was supposed to be used for, or even what the item was.\n\nDavid looked around if there was anyone having the same kind of items. Next to him was William, someone David knew more than others, so he gladly leaned over to check up on him. \"Hey man, glad to see you have the better end of the makeover.\" He said with a wave before holding up the item he was given. \"Do you have one of these as well?\"\n\n@Teyao@Fading Memory", "username": "Conscripts", "char_name": "David Liang" }, { "text": "Somebody saying his name attracted his attention and turned his view to a... zombie girl beside a person with strange patterns across their skin? A second later his brain caught in exactly who those people were and a small wave of guilt crashed against his mind, the moment he had heard the beautiful song playing all thoughts other than walking towards it had fled his mind. Furthermore, the fact that Toby was at his side during the whole thing felt weirdly out of focus like it was somebody else memory, it wasn't very nice of him to get distracted to such a point so he would have to apologize later, not right now because Audrey seemed to be doing a good job at calming her down and he didn't want to intrude in what seemed like an intimate familiar moment so he just flashed Audrey a small thumb up and small smile to signal she had his support if she needed it.\n\nHe was so distracted by staring at them that he almost missed the stranger approaching but Audrey's words caused him to look up just in time o focus on him as he explained.\n\n\nHe could feel himself almost vibrate on the spot in pure excitement, how could he not when watching the strange man(?) walk away to the seemingly impssible city in front of them, with just a cursory glance he could see several creatures of odd proportions and humanoids in equal measure, several even had wings like him!!, there was also a man riding some sort of box similar to a refrigerator that emited mechanical noises and a cat that seemed to be carried in a palequin by a squad of mice.\n\n\nAt Frejya mention of his wings he couldn't help but preen a little and flutter them around in a chaotic manner, he was as amazed as she was and he was equaly in awe at her antlers. Following along the group just proved that the strange sight didn't end in just the front, there was a house that looked to be made of sponges, a trio of ladies that kept aging and getting younger at random intervals appeared to be gossiping among themselves, next to them was a hairy giant of blue skin with several arms that released bubbles from the sleeves of his jacket and many other exotic views.\n\nHis was getting a little dizzy with how much he was turning his head from side to side in order to watch everything but he couldn't help it, he just wanted to see everything. However it was at that moment that David called to him at his side.\n\n\n\"David!!!!\" At his word he flapped his wings once more \"You look amazing too! You look like the mix between an android and a ent, it looks so cooool!\" He was being sincere, David transformation really suited him with how well it adjusted to his natural features \"Ohhh that glowing looks so cool and pretty, maybe it's magical!, they game me this\" He signaled at the necklace that had landed on him after a cloud with hands had throwed it (He didn't notice that his hair moved to grab it and drapp it on his neck) \"It reminds me of those old style necklaces on cowboy movies\"", "username": "Teyao", "char_name": "William Mencia" } ]

[ { "text": "Eckehart's smile grows positively toothy; the curve of his lips making the sharpness of his fangs quite apparent in the brightness of this night. He bows to Sidney partially, flourishing an arm towards the bridge as if to capture the fullness of it with his outstretched hand.\n\n\"Bikura of ages past, detailing the three crucial enlightenments of Yo'Bikur. The first is the wisdom of the creatures we call the Dralask, the lone wanderers of the wood, whose lonely songs were the first voices of Yo'Bikur. Before there ever were Bikura, the Dralask were singing The Song. These days they are rare creatures indeed, hermits of peace and guidance in the deep wood. The second is the grace of the mighty Tyrdania, the keepers of the River Springs. Their strength is terrible, but the waters of Yo'Bikur are sacred and they guard their springs jealously. Because of them you may drink of any waters in the Dreamlands with no fear- but be gentle should they pass. Their writings upon the waters were a mystery for many lifetimes, but eventually it was learned that they transcribed The Song upon the waters. The last was the Throat of the World, the tall peak beyond all other peaks from whom all other mountains are but roots; it is from there that the air itself is carried from the lungs of Yo'Bikur and on it the Song. From these things did the first Bikura learn; Voice, Water, and Air. It is these things we cherish still, and this bridge tells of that reverence.\"\n\nHe laughs more fully, Sidney's etiquette concerns seeming to please him greatly.\n\n\"Do what feels right; we Bikura are stewards and governors but not lords over any. We maintain the Harmony of things, and choose our leadership from amongst ourselves. Usually this is the True Voice, sometimes it is not. Address her as you wish, and if she takes offense she will let you know. If you wish to know, I call her simply 'Princess', most 'Rulania', and her brother, whose own name is Ralek, calls her 'Lania'. I bow, but most do not unless it is their culture to do so. Use whatever greeting is appropriate to yourselves and she will be delighted.\"", "username": "Fading Memory", "char_name": null }, { "text": "Rowan Moore\nInteracting with: Ambrose: @psych0pomp Audrey: @Gisk Eckhart and Freyja: @Fading Memory\n\n---\n\n\nAs Ambrose had suggested, Eckhart confirmed that the object Rowan held was a moonstone. She took another careful look at inspecting it from every angle. She had no idea what this etched stone was before it was explained. So how did Ambrose know? Rowan didn't have him pinned as someone knowledgeable in stonework. Perhaps she underestimated him, but there was no way she would admit to that.\n\n\"...that moonstone is the symbol of one such group of like minded individuals. They are wise in their own way, and their matron's power comes from her home world and not of the Song itself. She must have divined your presence in some way, take it as compliment and invitation.\"\n\nIt was a compliment indeed. Rowan gazed at the moonstone one last time before slipping it into one of her belt pouches.\n\nRowan bowed her head with a smile to Eckhart in thanks. She had many more questions to ask and to say to the man. But he seemed occupied fielding the group's questions as it was. Which left her mind to wonder about the explanation he gave.\n\nThe people in this land seemed transfixed by this song, even Rowan was following its tune without fully realising it. Did it carry some religious significance in Yo'Bikur? It clearly carried some divine power with its ebbs and flows. So would a group that doesn't draw power from the song be considered heretical? From the way Eckhart regarded them, this clearly wasn't the case. In fact, assuming Rowan was being mistaken for one of these individuals, the unusual reverence from the crowd would mean they are highly regarded.\n\nIf this moonstone gift was to double as an invite, it was one she would be eager to accept when the time arose. \n\nAnd what did he mean by home world?\n\n'Questions for another time...'\n\n\"As for his trinket... That is, I believe, a child's toy meant to be given to good friends...\"\n\nRowan was taken out of her pondering when she heard Ambrose had been given a kids toy. She couldn't help but giggle to herself.\n\n\"Well when you go to partake in the sacred soup, make sure to grab the kiddie meal eh Ambrose?\" While Rowan spoke in a joking tone, it didn't carry any mean-spirited intent.\n\n\n\n---\n\n\nRowan followed the etchings on the bridge. The deer she had seen earlier instantly caught her attention. The flicker she had seen earlier that day must have been some way of her peering through the veil into this world. Then the snake rose from a waterfall which she couldn't help but associate with the lake. And finally, a light peering from a mountain. That was happening now. All these events grew more recent chronologically as they drew closer to their destination and the tune became louder in her head.\n\n\"Aud, do you believe in destiny?\" She picked up her voice a bit to welcome others into the conversation. \"These stones have been here a long time. But if I didn't know any better...\"\n\nEckehart pauses here, and faces the group.\n\n\"Are there any other questions before we make audience with the princess? She has been waiting for you, all of you, for a very long time.\"\n\nQuestion answered I suppose\n\n\"...If what I'm hearing is Rulania, and you're saying it is, then I just want to cross as fast as possible.\" Freyja says quietly, a small blush filling her cheeks. \"If she's been waiting on us, then I'm ready.\"...Ever hasty, that Freyja.\n\nRowan came up and stood beside Freyja, if a little further back. \"I'm ready as well. I assume it is rude to keep royalty waiting.\"", "username": "Jumbus", "char_name": null }, { "text": "\"Uh, um...\" Toby stammered slightly, as she struggled to take in everything that had been revealed. Yo'Bikur? Summons? Everything was exploding in her head, and she couldn't make sense of any of it... especially with the nerve-bleedingly distressful form she had taken. \n\nShe kept close to her cousin, nudging at her side and clinging to her hand with a manic intensity. She could only hope that Audrey would stick by her- no, that they'd all manage to stick together through this. It was always a bad idea to split apart, right? There's no way she could handle this alone...\n\n\n\n\"This Princess...\" she hummed out, biting her lips. \"Does she... want anything from us? Do we really need to see her... now?\"", "username": "myrkwise", "char_name": "Toby Springer" }, { "text": "Audrey Springer\n\n---\n\n\n\n\"Aud, do you believe in destiny?\" Rowan pulled Audrey's attention from Toby, who seemed to be having a worse time by the minute. \"These stones have been here a long time. But if I didn't know any better...\"\n\nYeah, actually. But what do the cobblestones have to do...\" she trailed off, looking at a smaller carving off to the side. It depicted a girl in ceremonial garb, she stood on a boat and rang a bell. It so much resembled their own town's ritual, that it made her wonder if there was a connection between their home and this place they had been stolen away to. It made her think of Weeping Sam. Lost forever, never to see his family again. \n\n\"I got a question too,\" she actually raised her hand, like they were in class. Her other hand squeezed Toby's, \"If I said I didn't want to meet the princess. That I'd rather just go home, would you let me? Or is it even your choice?\"\n\n@myrkwise@Fading Memory", "username": "Gisk", "char_name": "Audrey Springer" }, { "text": "I am placing this statement in the IC to ensure that everyone sees it; most of the present feedback has requested that I leave more room for character interactions, and as such I am no longer enforcing the rails. Enjoy.\n\n\n\n---\n\n\n\nEckehart's smile softens as Toby speaks, her simple question, just as with the etiquette one, seeming to please him. He is about to speak, but Audrey's oddly formal handraise gives him pause, her own words adding onto Toby's question. He nods again, slowly this time, as if Audrey's words held some unknown significance.\n\n\"I do not believe she has any specific wants or needs from you, in truth- but I am not she, do not let Eckehart speak for Rulania!\" He begins. \"All I know on the subject is that when she was revealed to be the True Voice at the age of six she asked of Yo'Bikur to bring her friends. It was thus revealed that they would rise from the Silvermere upon the New Year if she was but patient. Therefor it was tasked to me, Eckehart, by the princess to watch the silver pool. For ten years I maintained this vigil, and at last you have all come. I could not imagine her excitement.\n\nAs for your choices, they are your own. I was tasked as guide, not gaoler-\" He moves a hand dismissively here, as if the very word were distasteful to him. As if it held a significance. \"-nor am I parent or lord to any. You may come and go as you see fit; Xaktin is a free city, and Yo'Bikur a free realm. So long as you do not disturb the harmony of this place, there is no quarrel you would ever face from the Bikura.\"", "username": "Fading Memory", "char_name": null } ]

[ { "text": "Audrey's words seem to strike Eckehart in a strange way. His eyes widen, and he is put on pause. At last he begins to-\n\nHe pauses, Ambrose's meandering musings seeming to interrupt or otherwise warrant a full-brain assessment as he speaks. After a few moments he appears to appreciate the distraction, but clearly tunes Ambrose out after realizing that his words carried many syllables but little meaning.\n\n\n\nDavid's final statement brings Eckehart out of his reverie, and the pale man clears his throat to regain the attention of those present.\n\n\"Is that all to say that you do not know how to return to your world?\" He sounds somewhat surprised- as if this was greatly concerning, but he was delicate and possessed of enough charms to not make it sound like a horrendously ludicrous affair.\n\n\"Not a clue, matchstick.\" Weasel speaks at last, having decided on a nickname for the fire-haired herald.\n\n\"How then did you arrive?\" Eckehart asked, folding his arms against each other and sliding his hands within the long sleeves of his cloak as if for warmth. Freyja lets out a humming sound and stamps a foot as if in thought;\n\n\"Well, it was the festival time, and I was doing the Sealing Ceremony. I first heard The Song when I rang the bell, but the raft and the bell weren't there when we woke up in the pool.\" She was about to continue speaking, but Eckehart makes a sound and interjects.\n\n\"A bell? Describe it to me.\" And when Freyja does, his eyes widen for a moment- but then he nods and returns to a relaxed state. \"Oft, special bells are crafted in matching sets here in Yo'Bikur. They are called Resonance Bells, and they call to one another through the weaving of The Song. They are used to travel great distances. It sounds like your home is in possession of one such Resonance Bell. If that is the case, all you must do is ring its match here and you will return home.\"\n\n\"Oi, that's hogwash.\" Odaya chimed, feathers rising. \"We didn't show up at any bell, we showed up all soggy-like and wet in a pool.\"\n\n\"That is, indeed, a strange thing little one.\" Eckehart agrees. \"And now that all is clear, your friend's anger is more than justified. You have my apologies, young mistress, for all of this is peculiar and I did not think anything out of the ordinary until now. I will take it upon myself the task of searching for your matching bell, should the princess not have any insights.\"\n\n...All the while, Alycia's fear faded and was replaced by a potent wonder and amazement. She finally feels safe enough to leave Aleyn's side, and drops to her knees to study the carving of the Tyrdania closely. She reaches out and traces its outline with a finger, slow and deliberate, until its size escapes her reach and she looks back up at Eckehart.\n\n\"It's beautiful.\" She said, simply, and her earnestness seems to bring a full smile to Eckehart, along with a welcome distraction from the seriousness at hand. Eckehart laughs, a pleasant thing, and nods.", "username": "Fading Memory", "char_name": null }, { "text": "He could feel how his smile froze and the red started to creek onto his neck.\n\n\"Ah\" was the only thing he could say in response.\n\nHow was he supposed to react to that!? did that mean that he was married now to the cloud person? Oh god, he broke the promise he made to grandpa about not marrying before becoming 17, he didn't even know who was his... fiancee? fiance? he stopped a moment to ponder on the matter of if the cloud person even had the notion of sexuality. \n\n\nDavid's words snapped his mind back to reality and he ran after the group to not be left behind. Okay, okay, David's words made him reconsider the whole thing and Eckehart said that it was a commitment but not necessarily marriage so could it be more like a promise to enjoy this place? he would much prefer if that was the case as that was what he was planning on doing anyway, in fact, he was already eager to run from place to place, looking at everything and everyone that catches his attention (which in this case was everything). \n\nSo engrossed was he in his thoughts that he almost missed the words of Eckehart upon reaching the palace entrance.\n\nSyd didn't waste any moment and launched on the etiquette question, a part of himself cringed at it knowing how bad he could be when trying to follow proper conduct codes, it wasn't his fault that his mind latched onto something he found interesting, and refused to let go from time to time!\n\nEckehart response made him sag in relief as more and more questions were asked, he didn't have to worry about acting stiff, then his confirmation that they could go to explore on their own made his heart leap in excitement and he almost ran away but the man words about the Princess wanting friends made him stop, more friends were always welcome after all.", "username": "Teyao", "char_name": "William Mencia" }, { "text": "Brown L. Cheeseman\nThe elongated boy had not uttered a peep since leaving the small pool. Entranced by the setting around him, he ambled slowly through the magnificent settlement. His mind was filled with thoughts and theories, only paying attention to the conversation. As he stumbled his way through crowds he found himself face to face with a short stocky creature. It grinned up at him with a wide mouth and a gleaming set of many eyes. Brown didn't get a chance to count due to the heaving crowds, but he sighted a great many eyes and a great many arms. It wordlessly thrust a great staff towards him. The body of the staff was sleek and simple, reminding him of a wizard's staff. It was easily taller than him by at least a foot and had a pleasant deep brown colour. It was bare except for a small grip hewn into it, approximately slightly below his should height, and topped with a crudely carved figure. Reminiscent of a gothic-era gargoyle. The creature sat squatting on top of the staff.\n\nHe suddenly realised he had been standing in thought, examining the staff for some time now. The grin of the creature slowly morphed into what appeared to be a look of confusion. He thrust it towards him again. Brown, realising the small creature was offering it to him gingerly plucked it, feeling the surprising lightweightness of the staff as he hefted it by his side. He watched the creature give some kind of joyous cackle before being whisked back into the ever-changing folds of the crowd. \n\nHe peered over the heads of many creatures, searching for his entourage in desperation. It dawned on him that he appeared to have lost them, and so, he did the only thing he could think of doing. He continued in the direction the group was traveling: towards the opulent palace.", "username": "PerfectThought", "char_name": "Brown L. Cheeseman" } ]

[ { "text": "Oh, Toby is doing fine, that's good, she seemed pretty sad when the teacher gave the results for the exams last week even though she scored pretty high (I got a C and pas pretty pumped about it), maybe talking will get her to relax a bit more.\n\n\"These last few days have been brutal! I have been around the whole town like four or five times making deliveries for Grandpa, people love the traditional bread that he makes for these festivities and they never seem to get fed up with it, not that I am complaining tho, more business for the bakery is always good and doing so many deliveries means Grandpa gives me some extra allowance\"\n\nNot that everything was good\n\n\"Not that everything is good, I haven't had the time to hang out with Syd in ages, and the few times I have been free she is always busy with other things... welp what can you do? So Toby, I just finished my last run and I got a bike and a desire to spend time with a friend, so what do you say, wanna hang out for a bit?\"", "username": "Teyao", "char_name": "William Mencia" }, { "text": "Audrey left the house quietly while her parents still slept. They had both had a late night; her mother from serving drinks at the bar, and her father from drinking half of them. She hopped on her father's Mustang. It was her father's in name only, as Audrey was the primary driver ever since his DUI last year. Instead of starting the engine, she disengaged the parking brake, and let it roll down their long, sloped driveway, swerving around her mother's Corolla with practiced grace, and backing neatly into the street. Here she did finally start the car, a reasonable distance from the house so that she hoped it wouldn't alert her parents to her departure. She didn't want to get entangled with either of them, and ruin her summer freedom. \n\nAs she pulled down their side street toward one of the town's main roads, she put her flip phone on speaker and dialed. \n\n\"Hey Aud,\" a tinny, crackling voice came through. \n\n\"Hick, got any work for me? Even just one?\" \n\n\"Sorry, sweetheart, but I usually just extend everyone's loans around the festival. People get forgetful, you know? Just trying to give them one fewer thing to think about.\" \n\nAudrey,  who had been hoping that same forgetfulness would translate into pocket money for her, grimaced but kept her tone light. Hickory Earhart was a very nice man, and she wanted to stay on that side of him. \"Alright, I understand. But if anything comes up, I dunno, like you need shelves moved or something...?\" \n\nHickory was perfectly capable of moving any shelves he needed moved. More so than Audrey, truth be told, but he didn't say so. \"You'll be the first I call.\" \n\n\"Right, thanks Hick, you're good people.\" \n\n\"You too, enjoy the festivities, should be a good one this year.\" \n\nAs she ended the call, she wondered what festivities she was meant to enjoy without any money. Her mother always gave her gas money out of her tips from the bar, but Audrey would never ask for more. She knew an allowance just wasn't in the budget. \n\n~~~ \n\nShe turned the car away from festivities(many of which were, in fact, quite free) and instead toward the edge of town. One of the roads that led to the nearby highway had a small paved parking pad on the side of it. Just three parking spaces, in faded white lines, and a sign marking a trail into The Shaded Grove. The trail was generally disused, including today, when Audrey walked right off it and into the woods, heading for the heart of the Weeping Sam. \n\nAudrey wasn't dressed the best for the adventure. Her boots, at least, were functional, if well scuffed Doc Martens, but she wore constricting skinny jeans. On top, she had what had once been a plain black T-shirt, but she had bleached a spooky face onto the front, and cut and tied it at the sides until it was a raggedy sort of tank top. \n\nShe walked with her hands in her pockets, not sure where she was going, nor exactly why she had come here. Presently, she came to a certain fallen, rotting tree and, not yet noticing that she wasn't alone, she lifted her foot up and kicked in some of the soft, spongy wood.", "username": "Gisk", "char_name": "Audrey Springer" } ]

[ { "text": "Rowan Moore\n\n---\n\n\nRowan gave a clever smile back to Audrey when she made the remark about making her own luck. She liked the concept of that; however rarely it comes to pass. Rowan was a firm believer in taking sure steps as opposed to risky leaps that may land her in trouble one way or another.\n\nRowan proceeded back to finish the final drawing for this area. It was of one of the parasitic vines toward the peak of the fallen tree. Her study wasn't close to being concluded, but she thought it would be best to start wrapping up. She had little interest in boring Audrey with the in-depth investigation and its details. Besides, the fallen tree wasn't going anyway. There was even some value in coming back once its state of decay had advanced.\n\n\"Hey, do you know which of these shrooms could kill a guy?\"\n\nThis question was not much of a shock to Rowan. She knew Audrey well enough to know it was just a wandering curiosity. It was just a shame that even a request to know the edible mushrooms would be met with the same answer. 'I don't know'. Rowan was only an amateur mycologist and only had good guesses on what was around the tree. She lacked the confidence to be conclusive. But that left some excitement for when she could get home and look them all up.\n\nStill, 'I don't know' is not a fun answer.\n\n\"Any mushroom can be pretty lethal with enough quantity. Even white buttons, if you were to eat your body weights worth of them.\" Rowan joked. Then returned to drawing in her notebook. \n\n\"I don't think I'll be much longer here.\" She notes without breaking focus from her sketch. \"Did you want to kill some time in town? Or continue exploring? I'm alright with either.\"", "username": "Jumbus", "char_name": null }, { "text": "Ambrose tried not to look aghast at the thought of a simple raft \"keeping the demons at bay.\" Though the color drained out of his evenly tanned face. Anyone that knew that young Hightower man would know that he was wildly superstitious. The more supernatural it seemed, the further he wanted to do with it. Someone had witnessed him scoop spilled salt in his hand and throw it over his shoulder once. Mostly because it blew into a woman's face and screaming commenced as salt in the eyes was not a pleasant sensation. So, he tried to keep his superstitions to a minimum.\n\nHe followed her, looking over the boat as they moved towards it. The entire affair reminded him of certain ceremonial displays he had seen in museums or preserved landmarks whenever he and his mother would visit Ambrose Hightower the First. They represented something far away and not at all to be found downtown in the small, rural town he currently called home. He'd lived here for several years, but never really taken part in the festivities. Usually, he was abroad during the summer. This one had been different as his parents had both become too busy to plan or fund such a trip. So, here he was. \n\nThere was a sort of a reverence held by the townspeople that made him keep his hands firmly rooted in his pockets and his feet one right in front of the other. As if one foul move would ruin the entire celebration and send demons clattering onto the docks with unbridled fury. He refused to be the bull in the china shop that released the End of Days upon the Earth. \n\nHe glanced down at Freyja as she admitted to being the star of the entire song and dance. Ambrose nodded in approval, as if it was warranted or wanted. When the older woman sniped that it wasn't a silly tradition, the chills returned back to his spine. \"I don't want to think about the fact I've been swimming alongside demons,\" he said. A wince bubbled up at the edges of his smile.\n\nAmbrose focused on the fisherman with the beam, not wanting to think about the literal hell that was their lake. While he may not have been the sharpest knife in any drawer, he wasn't stupid enough to throw his back out by refusing help. With a bit of grunting and sleeve rolling, they were able to get it up, and there Ambrose held it still. This is the part he'd show off. He had the stamina to hold something heavy for a while. There were implications there, but the ones that crossed his mind mostly had to do with highlighting his strength and balance. Not that he couldn't be a horny teenager, but his brain was too busy making sure that he didn't sweat too hard. He didn't want to lose grip. His feet bit into the ground below as he became oddly silent with the task at hand.\n\nIt was then that an inflatable tube man of a boy came up, floundering about like a fish begging for water on the shore. Ambrose wasn't too interested in him now, as he seemed to beeline to Freyja. Maybe he had a crush? And speaking of crush… the beam was trying to do that to his spine. Yet, Ambrose's thoughts ricocheted away from muscle strain when he heard the other remark on his height.\n\n\"Dude…\" he grunted, \"we're like the same height. \" He exhaled. \"You can help if you like, but don't throw me off balance. The lake demons will eat us, otherwise.\"\n\nTAG(S): @Fading Memory @PerfectThought", "username": "psych0pomp", "char_name": null }, { "text": "Seeing the phone ring a few more times and then die he couldn't help but break the silence.\n\n\"Well, Audrey doesn't seem like she is gonna respond, probably forgot her phone or forgot to charge it, you know how she can be sometimes, ha ha ha\" Wait, if she finds I was making fun of her at her back she will go off on me again \"But let's, ah, let's think of something else okay? Like where should we go looking for her?\"\n\nSmooth as always Will, smooth as always", "username": "Teyao", "char_name": "William Mencia" }, { "text": "Toby scrunched her nose in mild concern, but ultimately shook her head.\n\n\"There's no point...\" she muttered. \"Is there anywhere you'd like to go?\"\n\nShe hoped Will would have a better idea, frankly. All of her own ideas nowadays were just turning to crap.", "username": "myrkwise", "char_name": "Toby Springer" }, { "text": "Oh man, Toby let him choose the course!\n\nBut what to do? the forest was that way and he had been there yesterday after his errands, the lake was out of the question as neither had swimming clothes and the Bakery was likely busy for the moment, plus the Festivities were sure to start at any moment(?) and he definitely wanted to participate in some of them.\n\nAha! The old shrine on mount Bilica should be near enough to use the old paved road and then come down for the festivities.\n\n\"What about visiting the Old Shinre? It has been some time since I have been there and it should be a good place to look around, if you want of course, any adventure is better when all are excited about it!\"", "username": "Teyao", "char_name": "William Mencia" } ]

[ { "text": "Rowan Moore\n\n---\n\n\nRowan spent a bit of time wandering, before stumbling upon an impromptu crowd. It's not as if there was any stall in the middle, so the sight piqued her curiosity. She was surprised to see it was a group of teens around her age playing some ball game. It was not one familiar to the girl but it was an interesting display. She decided to stick on the sidelines and watch for a while.\n\nThen the ball rolled right toward her feet.\n\n\"Hey Rowan!\" He noticed her among the crowds. \"How are you doing? Do you want to join us?\"\n\nOh no. Rowan was not good at being put in the spot. Finding some response needed to be quick. She didn't want to join. This was nothing against David, she enjoyed the guy's enthusiasm, but she was bad at soccer and didn't enjoy ball sports in general. Still, she couldn't just say no, could she? That would be mean, and she didn't want to be mean to David. Plus everyone around was watching, there were far more eyes on her than just David. But she couldn't embarrass herself by failing at the game in a miserable faction.\n\n\"...\" Through the absolute turmoil caused by the simple question, Rowan just stared blankly for a moment with a discerning brow. To an outsider, the signs of this life-or-death decision would be unreadable.\n\nAs she had her eyes on David, it took her a while to notice something bump against her leg. Looking down, she noticed Stig had been offering the ball to her. But there seemed to be no sign of his mother around. With a sigh and a smile, Rowan took a knee to get as close to eye level as she could to Stig. \"Well, thank you for picking that up for me.\" As she let him pass the ball to her.\n\nRowan was quick to toss the ball back to David. \"Sorry David, maybe next time. I think this one is a little lost. Plus, I'm sure you have plenty of players already.\"\n\nShe then turned her attention back to Stig. \"Do you want me to help you back to your mum? I heard there is a big performance happening soon and I'm sure she would want you there.\" Rowan tried putting on a 'talking to kids' voice. She wasn't very good at it, but there was an honest attempt made.\n\n@Fading Memory", "username": "Jumbus", "char_name": null }, { "text": "Sidney Malcolm\n\nBilica squabble? Urgh, whatever Audrey was talking about Sidney was glad she arrived late enough to miss it; that was a silver lining even if she would have preferred not to lose track of time as she had. Of course her friend would find herself in the middle of it as well, but it sounded like things went well enough, this time.\n\n\"A dead tree? I don't know…\" It was sweet of Audrey to think of her and her art upon seeing something she thought was cool and Sidney was always happy to be given a fresh source of inspiration, but this one kind of missed the mark. A dead tree just made her think of rotting wood, little pill bugs crawling all over it and dark, shadowy vibes. The thought was enough to make her scrunch her nose up; maybe some other time she would have been into it, but that kind of scene was completely at odds with the kind of colourful stuff she wanted to draw right now.\n\nAlthough… if mushrooms were starting to grow on it, then maybe it wasn't as dreary as she was imagining; she didn't know her way around the woods like Audrey did, but she was pretty sure some of those mushrooms could be pretty colourful. Her look turned thoughtful, and then she began to smile. She could just picture a bunch of brightly coloured fungus growing out of an old stump and a fallen log; a dull, grey under layer with a vibrant, psychedelic forest growing on top of it. Like something out of Alice in Wonderland. \"Actually, yeah. Yeah! That sounds great. Thanks for telling me.\"\n\nFeeling her phone vibrate in her hand, she turned the screen over to see the return message from William. \"Sorry, it's William. Let me just text him back.\" Really? 'New phone'? That joke was so old.\n\n\"Nevermind. I found someone cooler to hang out with.\"\n\nTake that.\n\n\"So, do you want to get some food? I haven't eaten all day.\"\n\n@Teyao", "username": "King Cosmos", "char_name": "Sidney Malcolm" }, { "text": "Barely a moment after sending his reply he felt his phone vibrate once more with Sidney's answer to his joke. Without wasting a second he sends back a follow-up.\n\n\"Ah this feeling of betrayal, yep that is my good ol' pal Sydney alright, soo.. who is the new victim?\"\n\nCosmos", "username": "Teyao", "char_name": "William Mencia" }, { "text": "\"Oh shit. She is my teacher.\" He playfully bonked his brow with his palm. \"I thought her name was Ms. Chessman. I'm going to be honest, the whole 'Cheeseman' thing is throwing me off. It doesn't sound real.\" Not that he could really remember what she taught or how he was doing in it. Honestly, most of his teachers seemed to tolerate him like lukewarm bathwater. Hence the reason he had a tutor. \n\n\"Nope. That's her name. I mean, unless you call her 'Mom,' too, and that'd be a little weird. But, hey, it'd be nice to have a—I'm guessing—younger brother.\" Ambrose laughed. In part because he thought his joke was hilarious, but also because there was no way that the two were related in any way. Apart from their height, they had no other similar factors. Brown looked like he was made by a child out of sticks they found on the ground. His hair was a mess. And his clothing choices didn't accent his body in a way that was flattering. Next to Brown, Ambrose looked stellar. Yet, he didn't stop walking alongside the other boy. He actually stopped, having an odd revelation while puzzling out the teacher/son/tutor relationship. \n\n\"Oh shit! You know what? You and Rowan should get together. She's mousey. You're mousey.\" He gestured to him with wild emphasis. \"I mean... like a real long mouse. Like a Cronenberg mouse. But still, definitely, a mouse.\" If one thought that Ambrose was drunk, they'd be wrong. He was entirely sober, or at least he hadn't imbibed any alcohol. This was just his personality. A bombastic collection of ideas, energy, and self-obsession.\n\nHe held up his finger to Brown as if the other boy could even begin to stop Ambrose from typing out a message.\n\n[Hey Rowan! Hope ur having a gr8 festival.] \n[Do you have a bf? B/c there's this guy I think you should meet. Brown Chessman.]\n[Where r u? I'll bring him over.] \n[*Cheeseman]\n[The name autocorrects b/c it isn't real.]\n\"And sent. So... where are these friends of yours?\"\n\nTAG(S): @Jumbus @PerfectThought", "username": "psych0pomp", "char_name": null } ]

[ { "text": "Audrey Springer\n\n---\n\n\n\n\"Yeah, that all sounds fucking great, but it's a little late for 'our own choices,' wouldn't you say, Eckehart?\" she spoke his name as if it were meant to hurt him. \"We already didn't get a choice in coming here. And I didn't ask if I could walk away, I asked if I could go home. Is that within your power or not?\" \n\nIt seemed like he wasn't personally responsible for bringing them here, and she very much doubted he actually could help reverse it. \n\nMemory", "username": "Gisk", "char_name": "Audrey Springer" }, { "text": "Ambrose bottled a snort as he chuckled at Audrey's remark about the God of Broth. \"Good one,\" he remarked. He did rub his fingers over the piece of fabric, considering removing it and using that as something to tie his hair up. It was easier to focus on that than on the words that were coming out of Eckehart's mouth. It was all gibberish to him. Honestly, it reminded him of when his NYC friends would go on and on about one of the newest JRPGs they'd started playing. And Ambrose only knew that acronym because it was burned into his brain. Saying anything different was asking for a long diatribe about the difference between Western and Eastern games and how they—why was he thinking about this!?! Right it was burned into his brain.\n\n\"Wait?\" he questioned himself. \"I was just given a child's toy despite you all getting something cool? This is my luck.\" He looked at Rowan and sighed at the mention of a kiddie meal, but the sigh was tinged with a smile. \"I suddenly have the urge to move on before I get a diaper and a binky too.\"\n\nEckehart answered everyone else's questions before moving on. Ambrose sorted himself into the middle of the group. It had nothing to do with his previous comment. More so, he was trying to save the integrity of the ribbon while pulling it out from the spoon. He lacked the strength to do anything with said spoon, so it was up to his fingers to handle the ribbon. His digits didn't want to cooperate, though. The webbing between them caused him to grit his shark-like teeth at the weird sensation they emitted when he touched them. It had to be the opposite of a phantom limb situation. Except he was put off by foreign feelings from new body parts. He inevitably removed the ribbon and pulled his hair into a blob on the top of his head. The wavey seafoam locks mostly stayed within their bundle. A few locks fell and tickled the gills on his neck. Another feeling he didn't care for.\n\nHe looked at the paintings, and then at the mountain behind them. It was all—a lot. The world was beautiful. Much like the pictures his dad would show him from a country that Ambrose couldn't verbalize without doing a disservice to the native language it came from. And yet, there felt like a film over his eyes—as if this was as normal as looking at a skyscraper. His brain was a swamp and his nerves felt like they'd been awoken from a deep sleep. It didn't feel rational, but it did feel real.\n\nA mention of a princess caused Ambrose's odd ears to perk up. At least that was a concept he was familiar with. Before he could eke anything out, Audrey was already knee-deep in hostility. Her anger was much like a fart, and she'd probably held it in too long. Now it was rank and spreading for everyone to smell. So, he quickly shot through the others to get to her.\n\n\"Woah,\" he said probably a little too briskly. \"Look, Audrey's not wrong. We've pretty much been Narnia-napped here—kid-Narnia-d, it doesn't matter. What she's saying is that there has been an exhausting amount of steps to get to this point without—like—any time to rest. Or eat. Or take a shit for that matter. Not that I've checked to see if I—you know what, not the time.\" \n\nHe took a deep breath, flashed a smile, placed his hands on his hips, and straightened his spine. \"I'm more than happy to visit a princess that has been waiting for us for a long time. She's royalty, and I'm sure that she has some grand knowledge to impart to us. Along with the power to fulfill whatever requests we ask of her—as we'll try our best to fulfill any requests from her. That being said, despite all this being beautiful, wonderful, and whatnot, this is not home. So, it'd be nice to get an itinerary on the length of our stay, and when we can get back home.\" He then paused, racking his brain for a way to say things in a more concise way. \"We're just hoping this trip is fighting-night.\" Shit. \"File-knit.\" Double shit. \"The opposite of infinite. Fin-it.\" He looked at Rowan with a smile, proud that he'd gotten there. \"So… let's go, everyone. Let's help the princess… and get the answers we were looking for. I have a sudden urge to make sure everything below the belt is where it's supposed to be.\"\n\nTAG(S): @Fading Memory @Jumbus @Gisk", "username": "psych0pomp", "char_name": null } ]

[ { "text": "The smile on his face could melt snow he was sure, hanging with someone was always so much fun! Oh he could't wait.\n\n\"Great! come jump into my bike and we can star searching for her, do you have any idea where she may be, forget that just point in a directon and we will be off!\"", "username": "Teyao", "char_name": "William Mencia" }, { "text": "Nathaniel Westmoreland\n\n---\n\n\n\nNathaniel Westmoreland struck his shovel into the mound of dirt gathered in one of the family's rusted red wheelbarrows. He heaved in with what little weight he had, filling up the head of the shovel to scoop out soil over the wire fence. He hated feeling his fingers clutch tight the handle of the shovel, picking up small patches of hardened dirt. He hated his white t-shirt clinging to his sweat covered back. Nate quickly shoveled a few pounds of dirt out of the wheelbarrow and into the large mud barrow. The sooner he was done with his work, the sooner he could get back to enjoying his day. Nate grit his teeth as he rolled the wheelbarrow back into the large toolshed to keep it safe from the weather, and grabbed the coiled up hose. He sprayed down the dirt in the mud barrow to keep it fresh, walked over to the connected pigpen, and sprayed water into their water trough until it was nearly full. The stench was nauseating to Nate, but his nose had become dulled to the smell of the happy pigs and their piles of manure. Even so, dealing with the fresh manure and urine was Rory's job. Nate grabbed a long hook from the toolshed and used it to unlock and open the gate between the pen and the barrow. He quickly stepped back as a couple of the more clever pigs charged forward and dove into the fresh mud to cool themselves down. He groaned as he watched a small smatter of mud plop onto the hem of his overalls.\n\nWith his chores taken care of for the morning and the pigs oinking their satisfactions, Nate made his way into the house. He ignored his mother in the living room, sitting on the couch yet again watching game shows on the tv with her foot propped up on an ottoman. The truck was absent from the driveway, meaning Nate's father must be out running errands. Nate quickly stopped by the laundry room, stripping off his overalls to apply some stain remover quickly. He took a quick shower, and changed into a simple outfit: sneakers, jeans, a plain t-shirt, and an overshirt. He didn't bother letting his hair finish dry as he quickly grabbed his backpack, slinging it over his shoulder and heading out the side door of the house. He reached for the handle of his old yellow bicycle, ignoring the old peeling paint and squealing gears as he took off down the dirt driveway of the Westmoreland farm.\n\n---\n\n\n\nBefore long, Nate rolled to a stop in front of the New Hope Library. He parked his bike in an old bike rack, not bothering to lock it. He walked in, giving a little nod of greeting to Old Hickory as the librarian was speaking into his phone. \"You'll be the first I call... You too, enjoy the festivities, should be a good one this year.\" Nate climbed up to the second floor to find his usual table near the window, cracking open a worn copy of Homer's Odyssey. His eyes drifted out the window between paragraphs, as he watched those near the shores of Lake Chartreuse preparing for the coming festival.", "username": "webboysurf", "char_name": null }, { "text": "Toby pondered the question for a bit, before pulling out her phone, attempting to call Audrey right then and there. She knew her cousin had the habit of wandering off, though, so it wouldn't be a surprise if she couldn't pick up...\n\n@Gisk", "username": "myrkwise", "char_name": "Toby Springer" }, { "text": "Audrey Springer\n\n---\n\n \n\nAudrey chuckled at seeing the compass. \n\n\"Making your own luck,\" she said, \"Now that really is witchcraft.\" \n\nDropping down to her haunches, she looked over the fungi and insects that were slowly, but diligently, returning the dead tree to the earth. She could appreciate it, in her own way, though she knew she understood it much less than Rowan did. \n\nLooking up at her friend, she asked, \"Hey, do you know which of these shrooms could kill a guy?\"\n\nSomehow, from her the question sounded off-handed, rather than off-putting.\n\n\n\n~~~\n\nAs Audrey and Rowan conversed deep in The Weeping Sam, Toby's call went straight to voicemail. \n\n\"Hey, it's Aud. If you don't leave a message, I'm not returning the call. Even if you do, no guarantees...\"\n\nBeep", "username": "Gisk", "char_name": "Audrey Springer" } ]

[ { "text": "David Liang\n\n---\n\n\n\"He is, I'm glad to learn that he is doing well.\" David gave a warm smile and a nod to Enrique's fatherly, or grandfatherly, jokes. He hoped to see Will again at some point. Maybe he could ask if they could meet up for the festival or something, but David continued his work for now, not wanting to be distracted. As the work proceeded, the laptop disassembled then reassembled with new parts, that thought was forgotten as a new visitor came into the bakery. He did not immediately recognize the man, but Enrique quickly reminded him. It was Tom Springer, and with him came with some emotional baggage, something something about a woman, likely his wife? \n\n\"R-Right, haha...it's umm...I'll keep in mind.\" He laughed nervously, finding it really difficult to properly respond to the weird grumble. He did not want to offend Audrey's father, but he obviously did not share the ideal, and also it took quite a bit to actually process the word play, and when he did, it had diluted in his already tired brain for the day that he could barely give off an empty indecipherable sigh. The boy silent admired the elder Enrique, who was really keeping himself composed. This must not be the first time this happens.\n\nThankfully, Tom had nothing else to do with him and just left after getting his things. It was then that he saw the sunlight gleaming off the ground. It had gotten late, the festival was about to begin. He quickly wrapped up his work and returned the laptop to Mr Enrique. \"There, the motherboard has been replaced, all your stuff should still be there.\" Quite a bad issue if he was being honest, but for that, the Mencia owner was grateful. The cupcake was a fresh cupcake, chocolate too, something he did order more than often. \"Thank you very much Mr Enrique. Enjoy the festival as well!\" He left the bakery with a big smile on his face. \n\nSince the computer shop already closed for the day, David went back to his home to put away the tool. The house was still empty by the time he arrived; his father must've already left for the festival. He set the tool down on the table in the middle of the room, knowing he'd be picking it up later anyway - a trick so that he'd never forget anything is to just lay it out where he could not miss. In the middle of the room was a picture of Wong and David at the airport. It was before they left the country to come here. David reminiscently glanced at his younger-self. His face was rounder, his eyes were brighter, but he wore the same kind of shirt he is wearing at the present day. It felt...weird, but relieved. The kid that were eager but anxious of what's to come back then...he wished he could have told him what he had found in the journey. \n\nAnd his dad too...\n\n\"Pa, hope you're enjoying yourself.\" David whispered into the picture, before taking his leave. He could change to something else, but he was in a hurry and his work attire kinda works for the less warm night.\n\n---\n\n\n\"Hey, it's David!\" He heard his name called. It was a couple of kids from up the streets, whom too were from immigrant families. It was relatively easy to get along because of that. \"Wanna join us?\" \n\n\"Sure, what are you guys doing?\" David agreed without hesitation, looking at what one of them was holding. It seemed to be a soccer ball, but it's also a lot smaller and seemed to be made of thin bamboo layers wrapped into a sphere. It gave a rather...exotic feel to it. \n\n\"Come, you'll get it eventually.\" The one holding the ball had David by the arms and pulled him into the group. The others fanned out in a circle, then the one with the ball tossed it over to another, who caught the ball with his foot then kicked it over to another person in the circle, who'd deflect it to another, then another, then another, all the while the ball never touched the ground. Until the group felt like they had demonstrated enough, who'd kick it over to David. \n\nCaught a bit off-guard, David tried imitating them, but the ball hit his foot at the wrong angle and it fell onto the ground instead. He shied a bit from the group at his mistake, but they didn't seem to care, just a laugh off before continuing. \n\n\"This feels familiar.\" He remarked after seeing it several more times. This is just like that game he always played with the school kids during break back then! Ah the memories. The next time the ball was sent his way, David tried remembering how he used to do it. Then his legs just moved on its own. \n\n\"Yeah! You got it!\" The group cheered as David made a perfect pass with his ankle-side of his foot. A few more circulations before the ball bounced back to him, in which he caught, tossed backward with his foot before swinging the same foot over to his backside, intercepting and delivering the ball gracefully over his head to another player, earning him an awe from the group. A big grin appeared on David's face as well. He still got it! \n\nThe seemingly fun little 'unofficial game' soon drew a small crowd of curious onlookers. David continued his theatrical physical performance, looking excited and juxtaposing the seemingly serious impression one might have had earlier from him. It was only when he missed the pass that he was finally brought back to Earth. The ball rolled over to the crowd, and in particular to the feet of someone he knew. \n\n\"Hey Rowan!\" He noticed her among the crowds. \"How are you doing? Do you want to join us?\"\n\n@Fading Memory", "username": "Conscripts", "char_name": "David Liang" }, { "text": "Audrey Springer\n\n---\n\n\n\nNot one for daydreaming, Audrey was ready to catch Sydney by the shoulders, but the girl righted herself before colliding. \n\n\"Doin' good. Literally, if you count breaking up a Bilica squabble. Oh, Syd, listen,\" she smacked her friend excitedly on the arm, \"There's a dead tree fallen in the forest. It's got all kinds of mushrooms and bugs and shit eating it. Very, like, 'ashes to ashes,' you know? Thought you might wanna draw it or something. Rowan did, but y'know, more of a Darwin's journal scientific sketch. I can show you tomorrow, if you like.\"\n\nCosmos", "username": "Gisk", "char_name": "Audrey Springer" } ]

[ { "text": "Sidney Malcolm\n\nBilica squabble? Urgh, whatever Audrey was talking about Sidney was glad she arrived late enough to miss it; that was a silver lining even if she would have preferred not to lose track of time as she had. Of course her friend would find herself in the middle of it as well, but it sounded like things went well enough, this time.\n\n\"A dead tree? I don't know…\" It was sweet of Audrey to think of her and her art upon seeing something she thought was cool and Sidney was always happy to be given a fresh source of inspiration, but this one kind of missed the mark. A dead tree just made her think of rotting wood, little pill bugs crawling all over it and dark, shadowy vibes. The thought was enough to make her scrunch her nose up; maybe some other time she would have been into it, but that kind of scene was completely at odds with the kind of colourful stuff she wanted to draw right now.\n\nAlthough… if mushrooms were starting to grow on it, then maybe it wasn't as dreary as she was imagining; she didn't know her way around the woods like Audrey did, but she was pretty sure some of those mushrooms could be pretty colourful. Her look turned thoughtful, and then she began to smile. She could just picture a bunch of brightly coloured fungus growing out of an old stump and a fallen log; a dull, grey under layer with a vibrant, psychedelic forest growing on top of it. Like something out of Alice in Wonderland. \"Actually, yeah. Yeah! That sounds great. Thanks for telling me.\"\n\nFeeling her phone vibrate in her hand, she turned the screen over to see the return message from William. \"Sorry, it's William. Let me just text him back.\" Really? 'New phone'? That joke was so old.\n\n\"Nevermind. I found someone cooler to hang out with.\"\n\nTake that.\n\n\"So, do you want to get some food? I haven't eaten all day.\"\n\n@Teyao", "username": "King Cosmos", "char_name": "Sidney Malcolm" }, { "text": "Barely a moment after sending his reply he felt his phone vibrate once more with Sidney's answer to his joke. Without wasting a second he sends back a follow-up.\n\n\"Ah this feeling of betrayal, yep that is my good ol' pal Sydney alright, soo.. who is the new victim?\"\n\nCosmos", "username": "Teyao", "char_name": "William Mencia" }, { "text": "\"Oh shit. She is my teacher.\" He playfully bonked his brow with his palm. \"I thought her name was Ms. Chessman. I'm going to be honest, the whole 'Cheeseman' thing is throwing me off. It doesn't sound real.\" Not that he could really remember what she taught or how he was doing in it. Honestly, most of his teachers seemed to tolerate him like lukewarm bathwater. Hence the reason he had a tutor. \n\n\"Nope. That's her name. I mean, unless you call her 'Mom,' too, and that'd be a little weird. But, hey, it'd be nice to have a—I'm guessing—younger brother.\" Ambrose laughed. In part because he thought his joke was hilarious, but also because there was no way that the two were related in any way. Apart from their height, they had no other similar factors. Brown looked like he was made by a child out of sticks they found on the ground. His hair was a mess. And his clothing choices didn't accent his body in a way that was flattering. Next to Brown, Ambrose looked stellar. Yet, he didn't stop walking alongside the other boy. He actually stopped, having an odd revelation while puzzling out the teacher/son/tutor relationship. \n\n\"Oh shit! You know what? You and Rowan should get together. She's mousey. You're mousey.\" He gestured to him with wild emphasis. \"I mean... like a real long mouse. Like a Cronenberg mouse. But still, definitely, a mouse.\" If one thought that Ambrose was drunk, they'd be wrong. He was entirely sober, or at least he hadn't imbibed any alcohol. This was just his personality. A bombastic collection of ideas, energy, and self-obsession.\n\nHe held up his finger to Brown as if the other boy could even begin to stop Ambrose from typing out a message.\n\n[Hey Rowan! Hope ur having a gr8 festival.] \n[Do you have a bf? B/c there's this guy I think you should meet. Brown Chessman.]\n[Where r u? I'll bring him over.] \n[*Cheeseman]\n[The name autocorrects b/c it isn't real.]\n\"And sent. So... where are these friends of yours?\"\n\nTAG(S): @Jumbus @PerfectThought", "username": "psych0pomp", "char_name": null }, { "text": "David Liang\n\n---\n\n\nRowan's refusal did put him in a little bit of a difficult spot, to either go with his classmate or stay with the group to play more balls. While neither probably would not mind if he picked one, David wanted to hang out with both. It's been a while since he had seen his friends, outside of classes...David fiddled with the ball for a moment, before the group headed over to him. \n\n\"Ya busy?\" One of the group's kid asked. \n\n\"Umm, not really, but...\" \n\n\"It's alright, we're gonna head to Suraj's house now for some games afterwards. You can always come around. Enjoy the festival man.\" \n\nThey didn't exactly pressure David, but they kinda just left without him really being able to pull their skirts, so they did make him a choice supposedly. Well, fine with him, hopefully...\n\n\"Well, uhh.\" He turned to Rowan. \"I hope you don't mind. We can look for Freyja together.\"\nMemory@Jumbus", "username": "Conscripts", "char_name": "David Liang" }, { "text": "Audrey Springer\n\n---\n\n\n\nAudrey raised an eyebrow at Sidney's answer. Or, rather, at the apparent internal back and forth before she gave it. All she said in response was, \"Cool! Maybe tomorrow, if we're not too tired.\"\n\nSidney had a brief text exchange with William, who Audrey mainly knew as another artsy friend who hung around sometimes. He was alright, but they didn't see each other much unless there was an intermediary friend, like Sid or Toby. \n\nAt the suggestion of eating, Audrey grimaced, but answered, \"Sure, if you're buying,\" without a hint if shame, pulling her pockets out to demonstrate their emptiness. \"Work at the ole mill dried up. I can getcha back in maybe a week, though. Don't let me forget.\"", "username": "Gisk", "char_name": "Audrey Springer" } ]

[ { "text": "Rowan Moore\n\n---\n\n\nRowan took Stig's blank stare with a delayed nod as an affirmation. She took the toddler by the hand and looked around for where the concert stage would be. It didn't take her long to collect her bearings considering the stage was exactly where it was every year. She was about to see off before David grabbed her attention again.\n\n\"Well, uhh.\" David turned to Rowan. \"I hope you don't mind. We can look for Freyja together.\"\n\nThe others who were playing the game looked to be heading off elsewhere and it didn't look like David was joining them. Rowan didn't mind him tagging along with her of course. What interactions she had with the guy were sparse, but he seemed nice and respectful company. That was a breath of fresh air when compared to some of the other kids in town. Rowan's only concern was that trying to reunite a lost toddler with his family wasn't a riveting task.\n\n\"I'm afraid I'm not doing anything exciting. But you can tag along if you want.\" Rowan replied back with a muted but welcoming smile. \"I think Freyja should be somewhere around the stage. But I'm not sure, I don't really keep up with what happening at these things until I'm actually here.\" She joked as the two started heading toward the stage area.\n\nAs they were walking, Rowan noticed a buzz in her pocket. Then again. And again. Then twice more. Leaving her to wonder what exactly could be happening that her phone would be going berserk. Grabbing out her phone, Rowan checked her notifications to discover she had just received 5 texts from Ambrose. 5 texts from Ambrose during the festival when it couldn't possibly be about tutoring meant nothing good. \n\nLuckily my phone just ran out of power so I couldn't have received those texts. Rowan thought to herself as she held down the power button to shut it off and place it back in her pocket. She didn't like to be bothered by her phone while she was at the festival anyway.\n\n@Fading Memory@psych0pomp", "username": "Jumbus", "char_name": null }, { "text": "Audrey Springer\n\n---\n\n\n\n\"You got a deal!\" Audrey said, brightly, offering her hand to shake. \"You choose today, I'll choose when I pay. So there's like three different kinds of fried dough I've seen, and apples if you wanna dunk your head in a trough for your food like a pig. Someone's grilling meat, somewhere,\" she added this last part with a sniff to the crowded air.\n\nCosmos", "username": "Gisk", "char_name": "Audrey Springer" }, { "text": "Brown's laughter ambushed Ambrose's senses. He'd gotten distracted looking at the lights and the booths. This had been the first time he'd attended the festival, and he had to admit that for such a small, homey town, they'd gone out of their way to make things seem larger than life. Brown's laughter caused Ambrose's smile to ignite even further, going from a close-lipped smirk to showing off thousands of dollars of dental work and whitening treatments. \n\n\"A fool? That tracks. Audrey calls me the town idiot, constantly. I figure that you mean in a more positive way like a court jester, than the moron that shits in the well. Not that we have a town well to shit in. Though I imagine that this fair has at least a port-a-potty or two. Though, I guess that'd be more the town box that everyone shits in.\" He placed his hands on his hips. \"I think the analog—nope—anthology—comparison has gotten away from me.\"\n\nAt the mention of Brown's friend, Ambrose shrugged. \"Wow. Are people getting drunk there instead of here? There are shiny lights here. There are just beer farts there. Well, I say let's have fun without him. I'm sure I can beat whatever games they have lined up.\" He lifted his arms up in a strong man pose and patted his bicep like it was a Pomeranian that had just learned how to fetch. He eyeballed one of the classic carnival games of hitting the hammer down on the target to make the weight go up to the bell. \"Oh. There we go. Maybe we'll win something. You can give it to Rowan or to your friend. Try to soothe his beer fart-burnt nostrils.\"\n\nAmbrose did check his phone about then, curious to see if Rowan had gotten back to him. It showed that they were unread. He narrowed his eyes at that. Then again, their relationship was just based on him paying her to make it seem like he was an academic. She probably assumed that he'd forgotten how to tie his shoelaces or something and muted him. No. Rowan was nice. She wasn't like some of the other people that his mother had hired to try to make her son the shiniest diamond in the shit mine. Rowan was probably just caught up in the festivities and hadn't seen her phone yet. Ambrose soothed his ego with that.\n\nThough mentioning Audrey earlier reminded him that he hadn't heard from her during this entire day. She was probably off doing something exciting, but what was more exciting than him? Nothing. So, he shot her a quick message before returning his attention to Brown.\n[🍆?]\n\nTAG(S): @Gisk @PerfectThought", "username": "psych0pomp", "char_name": null }, { "text": "Aleyn Ward\n\nAleyn stood near the front of the New Hope Inn, door open wide for the world to see inside. The hustle and bustle of the festival had many of tourists coming and going, giving an amount of attention only afforded to the Ward family during holidays. His mind instead was focused on how fast and far he could get away from the Inn, away from his brother's abuse. Unfortunately that man stood near the door, glaring at his little brother, ready to backhand if he uttered even the slightest disrespect. Aleyn turned his back to begin walking down the brightly lit street, his brother fixing his tie while just waiting till the boy was just a bit farther away to speak up. \n\n\"Enjoy yourself. Tomorrow you have a big day. Don't come back late.\"\n\nInstead of speaking back, the boy just waved back. He didn't want to say anything to Markus because it would just end in a shouting match and that was exactly the thing he didn't need right now especially without Alycia there to calm either down. He was always happy that at-least she was spared from their guardian's wrath, able to grow up experiencing life with a happiness that Aleyn never got. Thankfully there was at-least one person beyond his sister that cared for him and that's when it hit him that he should probably check his phone. Grabbing it from his pocket, he quickly opened it using Alycia's birthday as the password, noticing that he had a message from Brown. \n\n\"AW CRAP! BROWNIE BOY HERE I COME!\"\n\nSeveral minutes passed as Aleyn made a mad dash to the festival area to find his best friend. Eventually he came upon the highstreet, almost immediately seeing Brown standing next a pretty big guy. He had no clue who this guy was but he did look familiar as if he had saw him around town. Whoever it was was didn't matter to him, he just cared if his friend was being treated right. Walking up to his friend, he slapped him back with a huge smile on his face before leaning on him, too short to actually lean on Brown's shoulder. \n\n\"Brownie, what's up? Ya enjoying the lame festival? Meet a girl yet?\", Aleyn looked the other guy up and down, placing his hand in the air to signify just how tall the guy was in comparison, \"Who's this guy? He's like...HUGE?!\" \n\n@PerfectThought", "username": "Taka", "char_name": "Aleyn Ward" } ]

[ { "text": "Audrey's words seem to strike Eckehart in a strange way. His eyes widen, and he is put on pause. At last he begins to-\n\nHe pauses, Ambrose's meandering musings seeming to interrupt or otherwise warrant a full-brain assessment as he speaks. After a few moments he appears to appreciate the distraction, but clearly tunes Ambrose out after realizing that his words carried many syllables but little meaning.\n\n\n\nDavid's final statement brings Eckehart out of his reverie, and the pale man clears his throat to regain the attention of those present.\n\n\"Is that all to say that you do not know how to return to your world?\" He sounds somewhat surprised- as if this was greatly concerning, but he was delicate and possessed of enough charms to not make it sound like a horrendously ludicrous affair.\n\n\"Not a clue, matchstick.\" Weasel speaks at last, having decided on a nickname for the fire-haired herald.\n\n\"How then did you arrive?\" Eckehart asked, folding his arms against each other and sliding his hands within the long sleeves of his cloak as if for warmth. Freyja lets out a humming sound and stamps a foot as if in thought;\n\n\"Well, it was the festival time, and I was doing the Sealing Ceremony. I first heard The Song when I rang the bell, but the raft and the bell weren't there when we woke up in the pool.\" She was about to continue speaking, but Eckehart makes a sound and interjects.\n\n\"A bell? Describe it to me.\" And when Freyja does, his eyes widen for a moment- but then he nods and returns to a relaxed state. \"Oft, special bells are crafted in matching sets here in Yo'Bikur. They are called Resonance Bells, and they call to one another through the weaving of The Song. They are used to travel great distances. It sounds like your home is in possession of one such Resonance Bell. If that is the case, all you must do is ring its match here and you will return home.\"\n\n\"Oi, that's hogwash.\" Odaya chimed, feathers rising. \"We didn't show up at any bell, we showed up all soggy-like and wet in a pool.\"\n\n\"That is, indeed, a strange thing little one.\" Eckehart agrees. \"And now that all is clear, your friend's anger is more than justified. You have my apologies, young mistress, for all of this is peculiar and I did not think anything out of the ordinary until now. I will take it upon myself the task of searching for your matching bell, should the princess not have any insights.\"\n\n...All the while, Alycia's fear faded and was replaced by a potent wonder and amazement. She finally feels safe enough to leave Aleyn's side, and drops to her knees to study the carving of the Tyrdania closely. She reaches out and traces its outline with a finger, slow and deliberate, until its size escapes her reach and she looks back up at Eckehart.\n\n\"It's beautiful.\" She said, simply, and her earnestness seems to bring a full smile to Eckehart, along with a welcome distraction from the seriousness at hand. Eckehart laughs, a pleasant thing, and nods.", "username": "Fading Memory", "char_name": null }, { "text": "He could feel how his smile froze and the red started to creek onto his neck.\n\n\"Ah\" was the only thing he could say in response.\n\nHow was he supposed to react to that!? did that mean that he was married now to the cloud person? Oh god, he broke the promise he made to grandpa about not marrying before becoming 17, he didn't even know who was his... fiancee? fiance? he stopped a moment to ponder on the matter of if the cloud person even had the notion of sexuality. \n\n\nDavid's words snapped his mind back to reality and he ran after the group to not be left behind. Okay, okay, David's words made him reconsider the whole thing and Eckehart said that it was a commitment but not necessarily marriage so could it be more like a promise to enjoy this place? he would much prefer if that was the case as that was what he was planning on doing anyway, in fact, he was already eager to run from place to place, looking at everything and everyone that catches his attention (which in this case was everything). \n\nSo engrossed was he in his thoughts that he almost missed the words of Eckehart upon reaching the palace entrance.\n\nSyd didn't waste any moment and launched on the etiquette question, a part of himself cringed at it knowing how bad he could be when trying to follow proper conduct codes, it wasn't his fault that his mind latched onto something he found interesting, and refused to let go from time to time!\n\nEckehart response made him sag in relief as more and more questions were asked, he didn't have to worry about acting stiff, then his confirmation that they could go to explore on their own made his heart leap in excitement and he almost ran away but the man words about the Princess wanting friends made him stop, more friends were always welcome after all.", "username": "Teyao", "char_name": "William Mencia" } ]

[ { "text": "Toby pondered the question for a bit, before pulling out her phone, attempting to call Audrey right then and there. She knew her cousin had the habit of wandering off, though, so it wouldn't be a surprise if she couldn't pick up...\n\n@Gisk", "username": "myrkwise", "char_name": "Toby Springer" }, { "text": "Audrey Springer\n\n---\n\n \n\nAudrey chuckled at seeing the compass. \n\n\"Making your own luck,\" she said, \"Now that really is witchcraft.\" \n\nDropping down to her haunches, she looked over the fungi and insects that were slowly, but diligently, returning the dead tree to the earth. She could appreciate it, in her own way, though she knew she understood it much less than Rowan did. \n\nLooking up at her friend, she asked, \"Hey, do you know which of these shrooms could kill a guy?\"\n\nSomehow, from her the question sounded off-handed, rather than off-putting.\n\n\n\n~~~\n\nAs Audrey and Rowan conversed deep in The Weeping Sam, Toby's call went straight to voicemail. \n\n\"Hey, it's Aud. If you don't leave a message, I'm not returning the call. Even if you do, no guarantees...\"\n\nBeep", "username": "Gisk", "char_name": "Audrey Springer" }, { "text": "Brown unfurled himself from his berth, almost bashing his head on the low ceiling due to his focus being placed on porthole looking out to the streetside. His mother always said he was clumsier when he was growing, god forbid he was still growing. He stumbled out of the cabin onto the deck, still his mind wandering idly. He noticed Freyja, and another boy ehom he only vaguely recognised. He considered going up and asking if they needed help, but he didn't know them that well and wasn't sure if it would appear odd or not. He wished one of his friends was there, but nay, it was just him and his decision. Eventually he concluded that it might appear rude to wander off without offering, especially as he realise, since he had apparently been staring for some time now. He just hoped they had not noticed. He put on his shoes, an old ratty pair of trainers. He then timidly wandered down the lakeside towards the raft. The boy and Freyja seemed to have a good rapport, and Brown's self-consciousness was only exacerbated by the fact the well put together boy seemed far better dressed than Brown, in his worn jeans and battered flannel shirt. Yet he was to close to back out now for he had been noticed. He gave a polite, if noticeably timid smile. He only hoped she remembered who he was, seeing as they were only acquaintances, in his consideration, despite them having grown up together. He didn't know the boy's name, only having seen him in passing around town, though he was visibly wealthy. After what he believed to be the socially acceptable amount of time to smile at them for, bridging the awkward gap of distance between them noticing him and him being able to talk to them without shouting. He spoke out to them from the shore, \"Hi Freyja, noticed you over here. I was j- just wondering if you needed a hand from someone with a little more height.\" He chuckled nervously, realising it sounded like he was bragging, and implying the other bloke was short. Which was very much not the case.\nMemory@psych0pomp", "username": "PerfectThought", "char_name": "Brown L. Cheeseman" } ]

[ { "text": "Rowan Moore\n\n---\n\n\nHearing another person approach through the treeline, Rowan closed her notebook halfway through shading her sketch. It was just about done anyway and having another person there probably meant she wouldn't have the peace and quiet to finish. She was surprised to see her father addressing her. But perhaps she shouldn't have been. If anyone could find them out here, it was him. The smallest Bilica tailing behind him was more unexpected.\n\nDucklings? Why did her dad have to be so embarrassing? Rowan didn't see how her father spoke as much of an issue when it was just the two of them. But with Audrey around, she couldn't help but associate some of his words with a cartoon bear warning against forest fires she saw on TV as a kid. Still, Rowan gave a reluctant smile at her father's speech and went to join him on the trek back to New Hope.\n\nAs she passed, Rowan got a closer look of Isaias. He looked worse for wear, real worse for wear. She couldn't help but wonder if that bruise on his cheek as a result of getting lost or by some other means. She wasn't going to dwell on it though, and she only looked at the boy for an extended second before switching her attention back to her father.\n\nThere was a saying Rowan had and it was a rule she intended to follow. If it's Bilica business, then it's none of hers. It was a cold statement, particularly when she looked at how the younger Bilica's often wound up. But they were bad news, the less she has to do with them the better.\n\n\"I actually like the old rituals and stories, did you know there's almost nothing written down about them in the library? It's all oral history.\"\n\n\"Really? I always thought they were written down somewhere...\"\n\n\"Maybe a certain library assistant could write them down sometime.\"\n\nRowan continued to make small talk with her dad and Audrey on the way back.\n\n\n\n---\n\n\nWith the sun setting and temperatures dropping, Rowan showed up to the festival in her regular coat but few other clothing changes other than that. The festival looked great as always, the awe of the town's achievements year after year hardly faded as Rowan grew older. And yet her sense of dress on the day never seemed to match. Her choice of monochromatic and muted colours ironically made her stand out more.\n\nRowan quickly found herself slipping away from the company she arrived with. Audrey seemed to be wandering off with Isiais, likely to the other Bilica kids, and no doubt her dad would be looking for her mum to do the regular town politics. That left Rowan somewhere between the two opposite ends of town relations, just enjoying the festival.\n\nRowan went about trying out some of the various games. Most were the ones present last year, but she still found them enjoyable.", "username": "Jumbus", "char_name": null }, { "text": "Toby had watched the exchange unfold with a demeanor that could only be described as that of a frozen statue, completely petrified and unable to even think or process what she'd just witnessed. This was way above her league...\n\nWho are they talking about? Votes? What...\n\nToby gestured at Will with a worried, trembling gaze, almost shivering in fright. She... she just didn't know what to do.", "username": "myrkwise", "char_name": "Toby Springer" }, { "text": "Audrey Springer\n\n---\n\n\n\nIs it possible for one's eyes to fall out from rolling too much? First Damon turns up with his creepy \"m'lady\" bullshit. Audrey looked at Odaya and said to her, in a serious tone, \"Otter, if a guy talks to you like that, you run the other way, okay?\"\n\nAs if that isn't enough, Weasel turns up and tries to play the black knight to Damon's white. Still acting like he resolved the situation, as if his brothers' behavior isn't a direct result of the example he sets. \n\nAudrey bit into the apple, not once acknowledging Weasel's remarks, and spoke with her mouth full, \"Find better role models, girlie. Everyone here sucks, and I think you know it.\" \n\nWithout further word to the Bilicas, she stalked away through the crowd.\n\nMemory@SilverPaw", "username": "Gisk", "char_name": "Audrey Springer" } ]

[ { "text": "There is a moment in every person's life when they are given several options they had to choose from, for William this was this moment, he felt the burning curiosity at whatever the older man was talking about and what they seemed so secretive about it but a look back at his companion made him reign himself, Toby was reacting badly to whatever they were talking about and if he insisted they investigated she would likely take it even worse, he didn't want the normally nervous girl to get even more so.\n\nGiving a last look at the retreating back of the Bilica elder he directed his attention to Toby once more with a smile.\n\n\"Wow, I didn't know Mr. Bilica and Mr. Howard were such good friends! Is nice knowing they seem to be so close enough to be hanging up in the festival together, hey it's kind of like us!\"\n\nFoot meet mouth, ugh sometimes he wished he had a better filter, what else could he say, he didn't want to leave it at that.., Oh right.\n\n\"Hey Toby I just realized I have been kind of dragging you along to Mount Bilica, do you really want to go or would you prefer to wait here for the Festival to start? I get to spend time with a friend so I am cool with both dude\"\n\nIt was at that moment that he felt his phone vibrate slightly notifying him of a message.\n\n\"Wait for a second please just got a message\"\n\nReading it quickly he was torn again between two options again but it was through sheer force of will that he managed to prevail against his childish impulses.\n\n\"Yo new phone, who dis?\"\n\nHe\n\n\"Okay right, so what do you say Toby, stay or go?\"\n\n@King Cosmos", "username": "Teyao", "char_name": "William Mencia" }, { "text": "Bilica Nonsense - Isaias Bilica\n\n\nAudrey makes her points, then makes her exit; Odaya watches her go, swaying where she stands, as does Isaias Bilica from beside Damon- otherwise, once she's no longer a potential issue she is largely disregarded by the Bilicas. Weasel rises up from his knee and brushes his pants off. The trio of lesser brothers exchange looks as if about to speak, but are silenced by a glare from Weasel.\n\n\"Alright, freakshow. Fancy quotes. Clever words. I'm not an idiot; you can talk circles around me... But I do have a pretty good quote of my own.\" Weasel laughs a rumbling laugh, before snapping his fingers- halting Isaias in his tracks, and thusly temporarily forcing Damon to listen. Isaias frantically looks between the two, that familiar storm broiling in his eyes. Weasel continues, \"If Is starts to sound even remotely like you, you're gonna be eating those fancy words.\"\n\nWeasel and his three brothers will thusly depart into the Festival at Large\n\nIsaias grumbles under his breath, then turns and trudges along with Damon. After a moment, Damon points out the boy's shame.\n\n\"I fell.\" He snaps at Damon. \"Off the path. Into the Sam.\"\n\nHe sniffs once. Indignant.\n\n\"The tree I hit looks worse.\" He concludes, bitterly, as if he somehow vanquished the branches that struck him out of pure spite. \"Let's just get ready.\" He broods, clearly wanting to focus on the upcoming performance.\n\n\n\n---\n\n\n\nDavid, Rowan, and Assorted Nonsense\n@Jumbus\n\nThe ball lands at Rowan's feet. David makes his invitation. The situation is so simple- yet so very not simple all at once, for without warning or herald suddenly the toddler of Stigandr Hoar appears at Rowan's side and quietly picks the ball up. His white hair is combed neatly, and how he escaped his mother's arms is a mystery- but no harm could befall him in this place with these people, the scarce population of 300 all knew the child's parents intimately and each other as well. Stig looks up at Rowan and silently offers her the ball.", "username": "Fading Memory", "char_name": null }, { "text": "Rowan Moore\n\n---\n\n\nRowan spent a bit of time wandering, before stumbling upon an impromptu crowd. It's not as if there was any stall in the middle, so the sight piqued her curiosity. She was surprised to see it was a group of teens around her age playing some ball game. It was not one familiar to the girl but it was an interesting display. She decided to stick on the sidelines and watch for a while.\n\nThen the ball rolled right toward her feet.\n\n\"Hey Rowan!\" He noticed her among the crowds. \"How are you doing? Do you want to join us?\"\n\nOh no. Rowan was not good at being put in the spot. Finding some response needed to be quick. She didn't want to join. This was nothing against David, she enjoyed the guy's enthusiasm, but she was bad at soccer and didn't enjoy ball sports in general. Still, she couldn't just say no, could she? That would be mean, and she didn't want to be mean to David. Plus everyone around was watching, there were far more eyes on her than just David. But she couldn't embarrass herself by failing at the game in a miserable faction.\n\n\"...\" Through the absolute turmoil caused by the simple question, Rowan just stared blankly for a moment with a discerning brow. To an outsider, the signs of this life-or-death decision would be unreadable.\n\nAs she had her eyes on David, it took her a while to notice something bump against her leg. Looking down, she noticed Stig had been offering the ball to her. But there seemed to be no sign of his mother around. With a sigh and a smile, Rowan took a knee to get as close to eye level as she could to Stig. \"Well, thank you for picking that up for me.\" As she let him pass the ball to her.\n\nRowan was quick to toss the ball back to David. \"Sorry David, maybe next time. I think this one is a little lost. Plus, I'm sure you have plenty of players already.\"\n\nShe then turned her attention back to Stig. \"Do you want me to help you back to your mum? I heard there is a big performance happening soon and I'm sure she would want you there.\" Rowan tried putting on a 'talking to kids' voice. She wasn't very good at it, but there was an honest attempt made.\n\n@Fading Memory", "username": "Jumbus", "char_name": null } ]

[ { "text": "Barely a moment after sending his reply he felt his phone vibrate once more with Sidney's answer to his joke. Without wasting a second he sends back a follow-up.\n\n\"Ah this feeling of betrayal, yep that is my good ol' pal Sydney alright, soo.. who is the new victim?\"\n\nCosmos", "username": "Teyao", "char_name": "William Mencia" }, { "text": "\"Oh shit. She is my teacher.\" He playfully bonked his brow with his palm. \"I thought her name was Ms. Chessman. I'm going to be honest, the whole 'Cheeseman' thing is throwing me off. It doesn't sound real.\" Not that he could really remember what she taught or how he was doing in it. Honestly, most of his teachers seemed to tolerate him like lukewarm bathwater. Hence the reason he had a tutor. \n\n\"Nope. That's her name. I mean, unless you call her 'Mom,' too, and that'd be a little weird. But, hey, it'd be nice to have a—I'm guessing—younger brother.\" Ambrose laughed. In part because he thought his joke was hilarious, but also because there was no way that the two were related in any way. Apart from their height, they had no other similar factors. Brown looked like he was made by a child out of sticks they found on the ground. His hair was a mess. And his clothing choices didn't accent his body in a way that was flattering. Next to Brown, Ambrose looked stellar. Yet, he didn't stop walking alongside the other boy. He actually stopped, having an odd revelation while puzzling out the teacher/son/tutor relationship. \n\n\"Oh shit! You know what? You and Rowan should get together. She's mousey. You're mousey.\" He gestured to him with wild emphasis. \"I mean... like a real long mouse. Like a Cronenberg mouse. But still, definitely, a mouse.\" If one thought that Ambrose was drunk, they'd be wrong. He was entirely sober, or at least he hadn't imbibed any alcohol. This was just his personality. A bombastic collection of ideas, energy, and self-obsession.\n\nHe held up his finger to Brown as if the other boy could even begin to stop Ambrose from typing out a message.\n\n[Hey Rowan! Hope ur having a gr8 festival.] \n[Do you have a bf? B/c there's this guy I think you should meet. Brown Chessman.]\n[Where r u? I'll bring him over.] \n[*Cheeseman]\n[The name autocorrects b/c it isn't real.]\n\"And sent. So... where are these friends of yours?\"\n\nTAG(S): @Jumbus @PerfectThought", "username": "psych0pomp", "char_name": null }, { "text": "David Liang\n\n---\n\n\nRowan's refusal did put him in a little bit of a difficult spot, to either go with his classmate or stay with the group to play more balls. While neither probably would not mind if he picked one, David wanted to hang out with both. It's been a while since he had seen his friends, outside of classes...David fiddled with the ball for a moment, before the group headed over to him. \n\n\"Ya busy?\" One of the group's kid asked. \n\n\"Umm, not really, but...\" \n\n\"It's alright, we're gonna head to Suraj's house now for some games afterwards. You can always come around. Enjoy the festival man.\" \n\nThey didn't exactly pressure David, but they kinda just left without him really being able to pull their skirts, so they did make him a choice supposedly. Well, fine with him, hopefully...\n\n\"Well, uhh.\" He turned to Rowan. \"I hope you don't mind. We can look for Freyja together.\"\nMemory@Jumbus", "username": "Conscripts", "char_name": "David Liang" }, { "text": "Audrey Springer\n\n---\n\n\n\nAudrey raised an eyebrow at Sidney's answer. Or, rather, at the apparent internal back and forth before she gave it. All she said in response was, \"Cool! Maybe tomorrow, if we're not too tired.\"\n\nSidney had a brief text exchange with William, who Audrey mainly knew as another artsy friend who hung around sometimes. He was alright, but they didn't see each other much unless there was an intermediary friend, like Sid or Toby. \n\nAt the suggestion of eating, Audrey grimaced, but answered, \"Sure, if you're buying,\" without a hint if shame, pulling her pockets out to demonstrate their emptiness. \"Work at the ole mill dried up. I can getcha back in maybe a week, though. Don't let me forget.\"", "username": "Gisk", "char_name": "Audrey Springer" }, { "text": "Brown L. Cheeseman\nBrown laughed at Ambrose's mix-up. He enjoyed the charismatic honesty of the man. \"I assure you, despite it sounding slightly odd, Cheeseman is a real name. I of all should I know.\" He chuckled brightly, walking up the bustling brightly lit streets of the festival. The normally sleepy street had been converted into a colorful parade of all the town's characters for one of the few nights in a year. He shoved his sleek hands into the worn-out pockets of his jeans. \n\nAmbrose's laugh made Brown smile. As he chimed at his own joke the younger boy couldn't help but crack a grin. As he continued talking Brown listened and walked. Only stopping when the merry voice of his companion began getting further away. He turned to see he had stopped and was busily texting someone. As Brown listened the smile dropped. He listened to him talking about someone.\n\nRowan. \n\nHe knew her. Of course he did. How could he not? He knew how pretty she was. He knew how smart she was. He knew her soft features by memory, but he doubted she knew him. At all, let alone well. And at the suggestion from the matchmaker, he felt his face going red. He began talking, nervously. Then as his new friend began talking again, he was put at ease. Upon his friend's casual usage of the term 'Cronenberg mouse,' Brown couldn't help but begin laughing at the utter ridiculousness of the situation.\n\nHe had not laughed this hard in a long time. He wheezed until he could wheeze no more. And that did not stop the tears from flowing. When he could finally catch his breath he came up from his doubled-over position. \"You're a fool, Ambrose, and I think we'll get along well. As for my friend? He still has yet to show face. No doubt working late in the pub.\" He gave a slight frown at this, it was hard to hide his worry for Aleyn, but he would try to keep spirits high in his present company. He quickly fired a text to his good friend:\nHey! Not tryna hassle. Just wanted to lyk on the highstreet with a new friend. P cool guy. Lmk when ur free.\"\n\n@jumbus", "username": "PerfectThought", "char_name": "Brown L. Cheeseman" } ]

[ { "text": "Sidney Malcolm\n\nWhen Audrey grimaced and emptied out her pockets, Sidney grimaced with her in sympathy. It was never a good feeling to be low on cash, especially when the festival was happening and everyone around you was having fun and you just… couldn't. \"Oh, sure. No problem.\"\n\nCome to think of it, did she have any money on her? Leaving the house in a rush as she did, Sidney wasn't actually sure if she'd remembered to bring any with her. She checked, patting down the sides of her jacket and reaching inside to where she usually kept that sort of thing; for a moment she was worried they would both have to hungry, which would be embarrassing, but luckily she was able to find a few bills in an inside pocket. \"Yeah, okay, no problem. And you don't to pay me back; just cover me the next time we go out, okay?\" Not that there was much difference, but Sidney preferred to treat these things in a kind of 'pay it forward' way rather than hold people to a debt. It was less awkward that way; for herself as much as the other person.\n\nPutting her hands in her pockets, Sidney picked a direction at random and began to walk, trusting Audrey to follow along. \"And I'm picking where we eat. Did you see any good stalls? I only just got here; haven't had a chance to look around.\"", "username": "King Cosmos", "char_name": "Sidney Malcolm" }, { "text": "Rowan Moore\n\n---\n\n\nRowan took Stig's blank stare with a delayed nod as an affirmation. She took the toddler by the hand and looked around for where the concert stage would be. It didn't take her long to collect her bearings considering the stage was exactly where it was every year. She was about to see off before David grabbed her attention again.\n\n\"Well, uhh.\" David turned to Rowan. \"I hope you don't mind. We can look for Freyja together.\"\n\nThe others who were playing the game looked to be heading off elsewhere and it didn't look like David was joining them. Rowan didn't mind him tagging along with her of course. What interactions she had with the guy were sparse, but he seemed nice and respectful company. That was a breath of fresh air when compared to some of the other kids in town. Rowan's only concern was that trying to reunite a lost toddler with his family wasn't a riveting task.\n\n\"I'm afraid I'm not doing anything exciting. But you can tag along if you want.\" Rowan replied back with a muted but welcoming smile. \"I think Freyja should be somewhere around the stage. But I'm not sure, I don't really keep up with what happening at these things until I'm actually here.\" She joked as the two started heading toward the stage area.\n\nAs they were walking, Rowan noticed a buzz in her pocket. Then again. And again. Then twice more. Leaving her to wonder what exactly could be happening that her phone would be going berserk. Grabbing out her phone, Rowan checked her notifications to discover she had just received 5 texts from Ambrose. 5 texts from Ambrose during the festival when it couldn't possibly be about tutoring meant nothing good. \n\nLuckily my phone just ran out of power so I couldn't have received those texts. Rowan thought to herself as she held down the power button to shut it off and place it back in her pocket. She didn't like to be bothered by her phone while she was at the festival anyway.\n\n@Fading Memory@psych0pomp", "username": "Jumbus", "char_name": null }, { "text": "Audrey Springer\n\n---\n\n\n\n\"You got a deal!\" Audrey said, brightly, offering her hand to shake. \"You choose today, I'll choose when I pay. So there's like three different kinds of fried dough I've seen, and apples if you wanna dunk your head in a trough for your food like a pig. Someone's grilling meat, somewhere,\" she added this last part with a sniff to the crowded air.\n\nCosmos", "username": "Gisk", "char_name": "Audrey Springer" }, { "text": "Brown's laughter ambushed Ambrose's senses. He'd gotten distracted looking at the lights and the booths. This had been the first time he'd attended the festival, and he had to admit that for such a small, homey town, they'd gone out of their way to make things seem larger than life. Brown's laughter caused Ambrose's smile to ignite even further, going from a close-lipped smirk to showing off thousands of dollars of dental work and whitening treatments. \n\n\"A fool? That tracks. Audrey calls me the town idiot, constantly. I figure that you mean in a more positive way like a court jester, than the moron that shits in the well. Not that we have a town well to shit in. Though I imagine that this fair has at least a port-a-potty or two. Though, I guess that'd be more the town box that everyone shits in.\" He placed his hands on his hips. \"I think the analog—nope—anthology—comparison has gotten away from me.\"\n\nAt the mention of Brown's friend, Ambrose shrugged. \"Wow. Are people getting drunk there instead of here? There are shiny lights here. There are just beer farts there. Well, I say let's have fun without him. I'm sure I can beat whatever games they have lined up.\" He lifted his arms up in a strong man pose and patted his bicep like it was a Pomeranian that had just learned how to fetch. He eyeballed one of the classic carnival games of hitting the hammer down on the target to make the weight go up to the bell. \"Oh. There we go. Maybe we'll win something. You can give it to Rowan or to your friend. Try to soothe his beer fart-burnt nostrils.\"\n\nAmbrose did check his phone about then, curious to see if Rowan had gotten back to him. It showed that they were unread. He narrowed his eyes at that. Then again, their relationship was just based on him paying her to make it seem like he was an academic. She probably assumed that he'd forgotten how to tie his shoelaces or something and muted him. No. Rowan was nice. She wasn't like some of the other people that his mother had hired to try to make her son the shiniest diamond in the shit mine. Rowan was probably just caught up in the festivities and hadn't seen her phone yet. Ambrose soothed his ego with that.\n\nThough mentioning Audrey earlier reminded him that he hadn't heard from her during this entire day. She was probably off doing something exciting, but what was more exciting than him? Nothing. So, he shot her a quick message before returning his attention to Brown.\n[🍆?]\n\nTAG(S): @Gisk @PerfectThought", "username": "psych0pomp", "char_name": null } ]

[ { "text": "---\n\n~1440 | PARIS | FASHION SHOW VENUE\n\n---\n\n\nThere were plenty of words that Vera would say, of course. Plenty of sensical words, spoken of my a woman with more common sense than Lucian and Edward combined. But by the time her words reached the point where she was speaking about 'a dragon, a fucking dragon', that dragon indeed, did appear. It had, after all, followed after Celeste. And now, though it seemed willing to let Lucian in, Vera was a different question.\n\nVera wasn't being dragged by the pink-haired ghost-seer-model. Vera wasn't affecting the mannerisms of a cheese-chomping buffoon. Vera, instead, was being stared down by a beast with no eyes, and unless she was going throw that first punch, she could not get close to those two models at all. Ethereal flame flickered out, perhaps a warning for the uninvited.\n\nBut Celeste too, would have noticed Vera.\n\n\"Of course, I can see you!\" she snapped back. \"And unless you had actually faked your death and then somehow gained the powers of a prodigious wallflower, you're definitely dead. But wait, so that woman over there is like, working with you then?\" Gears were turning visibly now. Thoughts parsed together, spun into thread, thread that wove a story. The excitement bloomed further and both of her hands now grasped Lucian's, as if afraid the connection would disappear if she let go.\n\nThere was something brighter in Celeste's smile. Something zealous.\n\n\"You've died, and become servants of the Holy Maiden?\"\n\n…\n\nThe two stepped upon the stage. A well-groomed man with the eyes of a muddy lake. A petite woman possessed with an aura of professionality and pragmatism. Edward would note the hush in the crowds, the dimming of the lights, but it was none of his business. His was work that pertained to ghosts and dragons, after all, necromancy and the naturally-dead-but-still-floating-around-not-due-to-magical-means. The ghosts continued to float about, their advance towards that pink-haired model paused by the presence of the reapers, and yet not noticing Edward amongst their kind yet. Vera was facing off against the dragon herself, yet neither of them had broken the equilibrium of caution and warning.\n\nIt all laid in balance. A quiet balance.\n\n\"Ladies and gentlemen, I have an announcement to make.\" A soothing, confident voice. Practiced and planned, from a man who was born with a silver spoon. \"Jeunes Fleures and L'ile aux fees will be merging.\"\n\nThat balance was broken.\n\nEven as a reaper, the necromancer could feel the surge of excitement rippling through the ground, followed by undertones of anxiety and fear. Two influential companies had joined forces permanently! A competitor had suddenly become just that much stronger! Goddamn, imagine the pieces they could create together!\n\nIn ordinary circumstances, this was nothing. But when there were ghosts present? That influx of emotion triggered something.\n\nA twitch. A gleeful laugh.\n\nThe young child, clutching a flower-shaped bag to her chest, could finally remove it, exposing her bones. Bones studded with flower seeds, which sprouted and expanded, shooting upwards towards the ceiling. They snaked around the lights, but the rumble of discussion of the guests made them deaf to the rattling of the ceiling, and from those sky-lusting roots, carnations bloomed. The two remaining ghosts, shook from their deathly trance, tried to float off, but their incorporeal limbs were snagged by thorn whips, dragged into the back-bending embrace of the child.\n\nEmbraced, until petals closed over all three, sealing them in bulb of motley purples and oranges.\n\nCannibalism. The nature of wisps was to consume those who had yet to turn and to use that energy to further fertilize their phantom-being.\n\nAnd though two were already being digested…there was another. One that had yet to draw his weapon.\n\nTendrils, laced with the ceiling itself, reached out for Edward. He could rip through one or two, perhaps. Three even. Four if he tried. He could handle a dozen at once with good positioning. But how many branches did a rosebush have?\n\n…\n\nIt was chaos invisible to all but those who were dead and those who could see.\n\nAnd the dragon, certainly, must have been dead.\n\nEphemeral flame, once nothing more than an illusion of that element, sparked with true power now, broiling within its exposed chest.\nThere was a strange woman, and a stranger wisp, and its bestial rage was enough to encompass them both. With a snapping that sounded like a lighter's spark wheel, the dragon's jaws opened up and delivered a jet of flame to burn the two of them alive!\n\n…or dead, one would suppose.", "username": "ERode", "char_name": null }, { "text": "Edward Bennigan\n\n\n\n---\n\n\n~1440 | PARIS | FASHION SHOW VENUE\n\n\n---\n\n\n\nIndeed, the necromancer was far too concerned with the supernatural to bother with such trivial mortal affairs. Fool that he was to not recognize how the spirits could react; his attention was still focus on the now absent party. He hadn't even noticed he was alone, not that it bothered him. \n\nIt wasn't until the emergence of vines that caught his attention. First to the spirits that had been consumed by flowers. His first thought was of rescue in truth. Passionate over the preservation of a soul, foolish as it may be in this world. Even be they wisps, all that meant was that he had to dispatch of them himself. No problem for a mage so overconfident in his ability.\n\nBut whatever plan he had was cut short when vines emerged to target him. Close quarters was not his strong suit, and he was far from the more capable reapers in fitness. Still, his confidence didn't waver.\n\n \"Oho, You wish to claim my essence wisp?\" Edward spoke with a hint of sinister glee. If nothing else, a good fight would let him show off how powerful he thought he was. \n\nHe first attempted to evade the vines, drifting backwards as fast as he could to gain distance. In an attempt to slow down some of the vines, he had drew out one of his bone-filled, tied up bags out onto the closest vine; and once it reached its tip, spoke his spell.\n\n \"Rise and serve the master of death!\" \n\nThe bones within the bag at once became animate, protruding from the bag with sharpened bits. To his will, the bones assembled a crude net-like formation. The mass could only extend a 7 foot diameter, and lack of material had its gaps wide; he'd at least hope the it will slow ever so slightly the majority of the vines.\n\nConfident with the distance he gained, he'd draw out his staff; the gold ring on his finger shimmered as the black gem within sparked with electricity, until it morphed to his hand as his weapon.\n\n \n\"Witness my power!\" \n\nWell, the staff wasn't his power, but they didn't need to know that. Edward let out a cackle as electricity fired from its tip to the mass of vines, sustaining the duration of the lightning in hopes to achieve substantial damage.", "username": "dragonmancer", "char_name": null } ]

[ { "text": "Lucian\n\n---\n\n~1440 | PARIS | FASHION SHOW VENUE\n\n---\n\n\nUnfortunate as the falling lights were, Lucian had neither the processing power or time to try to help strangers. In all fairness to him, he didn't even see the lights fall down either. He was too busy watching as Vera was being roasted (he was praying for her right now) and he was being charged (he was praying for himself right now).\n\nLucian, however, had a trick up his sleeve to deal with his draconic foe. Well, it was the same trick all reapers had. Lucian was not exactly a man built for fights. His magic was much too fickle and indirect for that. Instead, Lucian possessed an item that was the only thing someone needed to win a fight.\n\nHe had a big stick.\n\nThe smokey gem on his finger erupted into his infamous pool cue. Had Lucian been more intelligent with more time, he would have set out a trap. Some pool balls on the floor for the horse-sized skeleton dragon to run over and trip on. Unfortunately, Lucian was not that intelligent. He ended up just holding out his pool cue to jab at the charging monster. Rather than an honorable battle cry, he more was letting out battle yelps.\n\n\"Eerp!\"", "username": "OwO", "char_name": "Lucian Harland" }, { "text": "Edward Bennigan\n\n\n\n---\n\n\n~1440 | PARIS | FASHION SHOW VENUE\n\n\n---\n\n\n\nThe success of the lightning over the plant matter had Edward cackling, as if he were mad with power. Such a small victory fed his ego, and so drunk off the feeling he hadn't initially noticed the disaster that would follow. \n\nHis laughter had slowed as the realization dawned on him that something was wrong. The destruction that was once a point of satisfaction turned to panic and regret as he remembered the simple fact that he was surrounded by mortals.\n\n\n\n\"Oh right…shit.\" Damnit. His abilities weren't suited for rescue, and definitely not in this scale. Focused to the immediate danger, Edward rushed to the people beneath the first set of lights that fell. He'd become tangible in his sprint, visible too, as he'd run into and push those people out of the way. \"Move fools!\" \n\nIn truth he'd prefer to stay invisible, but his lack of training in that field left him without options. There wasn't any time to complain or feel embarrassed about it though. He'd drop another bag of bones and braced for impact if it failed.\n\n\n\n\"Rise and serve the master of death!\" This chant sounded more desperate then cocky, as he stirred the bones in this bag to move and grow like a tree, forming into something like a large skeletal hand in hopes to catch the debris that was to fall on him and the others he failed to get out of the way.", "username": "dragonmancer", "char_name": null }, { "text": "---\n\n~1441 | PARIS | FASHION SHOW VENUE\n\n---\n\n\n\nEmerging from the arcane globe of shimmering magic that had saved her, Vera darted forward. She had been trapped. She had been slowed. She had to help Lucian. She had to protect Celeste. Cheese boy was no fighter. He was not even a shield. He was a pretty face. Some chiseled abs. And clearly, the brains of a mouse.\n\nShe didn't worry about the wizard. She didn't worry about the crashing lights. Edward seemed fine. He was still shouting. Vera decide to take that as a positive sign. The dragon had to be dealt with. The danger had to be ended. Aid couldn't be dispensed to any hapless mortals with a mouthful of jagged teeth looming over Lucian...an maybe Celeste afterwards.\n\nSpringing forward, Vera launched herself at the dragon and swung her ebony blade at whatever part of the dragon she could reach first. She needed to strike. She needed to distract. She needed to buy Lucian time. She needed to do something.\n\nAnything.", "username": "Abstract Proxy", "char_name": "V E R A" }, { "text": "---\n\n~1442 | PARIS | FASHION SHOW VENUE\n\n---\n\n\nPanic erupted in an instant, and Edward was immediately in the thick of it.\n\nCompared to the destruction of the lights, the sudden appearance of a guy in a weird costume was basically a non-issue. No one spared a glance at his desperate chant, but the efficacy of it, at least, was proven. Though broken glass slipped through the gaps of the skeletal hand, the interconnected nature of the lights allowed more of them to be hoisted up by the necromancer's spell than simply the size of the hand itself. The patrons of the place had been saved!\n\nBut they were now all streaming towards the exit too, security motioning towards the exits as the well-dressed, well-perfumed attendees of the fashion show made their exits as quickly as possible. And with in the tide of humanity, Edward found himself being swept away, his tangible form pushed and prodded out of the venue alongside everyone else, glass embedding itself in his shoes on the way out.\n\nAnd as he neared the exit, he saw two things.\n\nThe wisp wriggling back up, fresh tendrils bursting out from charged lumps. It had been damaged, greviously so, but it had recovered in the chaos as well, fluctuations of emotion giving it the fuel it needed to continue.\n\nThe man on the stage, pulling out a card from the breastpocket of his suit. With a parting of his lips, the card ignited and disappeared, the surest sign of written magic, before the security team escorted him out through the back of the stage.\n\n…\n\nPool balls littered the floor, and the dragon, its fleshless feet already lacking traction, slipped upon them as a result. It was effective!\nStabbing a creature made of absolutely zero flesh? Much less effective.\n\nLucian's pool cue may have made for a good weapon if he had swung it, but a thrust simply ended up with the stick going through the eye socket and out the back of the dragon's skull as the spectral monstrosity tripped forwards and slammed its jagged forehead right into the reaper's chest. Momentum continued, Lucian smashed straight through the drywall. His back and his butt were stuck inside the wall now, but before a finishing blow could be delivered, Vera's claymore swung true, struck true.\n\nSoundlessly, that ebony blade slid through the dragon's tail, severing it with a singular stroke.\n\nIt roared in response, twisting around like a snake to face its foe, inadvertently wrenching Lucian's weapon from his grasp. Four limbs coiled up like springs, four sets of claws digging deep into the walls, a pair of wings spread out and aligned like blades.\n\nAnd with a kick, it launched itself towards Vera, intending on smashing her to bits the same way that it had for Lucian.\n\nIn the frenzy and the scramble, however, Celeste's presence was difficult to track.\n\nUnlike Lucian, she hadn't been half-buried in a wall.\n\nUnlike Lucian, she was being lead away by a host of skeletal monkeys, glowing with the same unearthly shine as the ghostly dragon.", "username": "ERode", "char_name": null }, { "text": "Edward Bennigan\n\n\n\n---\n\n\n~1442 | PARIS | FASHION SHOW VENUE\n\n\n---\n\n\n\nThe successful lift of the skeleton hand allowed Edward a brief respite from the rush of panic. Burdened by the emotional exhaustion, it only served to distract him further as now crowds of people pushed and shoved. Between the unnecessary, suffocating crowd of fleeing patrons and his corporeal feet being cut against the class, Edward had become far from comfortable. He silently hissed before he regained enough sense to render himself incorporeal once more, about the time he noticed the plant-controlling wisp, his prey, recovering fast. Bastard must be even more hungry now.\n\n\"Second round then?\" Like a switch he had returned to his more confident persona, his lips stretched into an awfully sly and devious smirk.\n\n\"Fool, you don't stand a chance against this sorcerer.\" \n\nEdward pointed his left palm outward.\n\n\"Mark of death, strike true!\" Another incantation. Four bolts of deathly magic were conjured above and around his outstretched arm, they hovered in place for only a few moments before they arced towards the wisp's central body. Despite knowing he wasn't the most efficient at melee, the pride and thrill he felt lured him to charge directly after the path his arcane bolts soared. Lightning crackled from his staff as he planned to point-blank blast a potentially dazed wisp, assuming his spell lands and produces its intended affect.\n\n\"The end draws near for you!\"", "username": "dragonmancer", "char_name": null } ]

[ { "text": "Amelia Dupont\n\n---\n\n~???? | DECIBITUS | LUCEMA REGINI\n\n---\n\n\n\nAmelia was faced, now, with a problem. As she made her way back towards the office, she was contemplating it quite fiercely. She had to solve the dilemma ahead of her, of course, but how to do so? Rallying support had never been her forte, as she had never seen much reason to give a shit about those who her charms failed to win over. Such matters were boring, and frequently futile.\n\nAnd yet, she wanted to make Miss Death happy, if she could. Or whatever approximated happy for her, at least; the woman's relationship with most feelings was a riddle Amelia had yet to find all of the answers for.\n\nSo she made her way back to the office, and for once, she had been thinking before she acted, because if she didn't think, she might not achieve the most entertaining of results. She wanted to see what would happen if MD and the necromancer were to speak, and she hoped a little bit that she might get to see. Things grew stale, and the current situation wasn't sustainable anyway. As reckless as she may have seemed (and been), Amelia had little interest in fading away because the afterlife grew overcrowded and went to shit. She wanted a good death, she wanted action, wanted that thrill that had shot through her being when...\n\nYes, it would be bad to let things grow stale. Terrible indeed. She considered, of course, the obvious option. There had been stern words about improper use of her weapon. Words that Uchi and Eliot had felt a great need to stress to her, even. But even if she knew she wouldn't pull the trigger, pointing it tended to rush along the decisions that people made, and in a favourable direction to boot. Ultimately, though, she discarded the idea. It would be foolish to lose her station, and there were lines that one could not cross. Besides, she wasn't maliciously unhinged, and she didn't enjoy the prospect of unmaking people if they took her actions as aggressive.\n\nNo, the gun stayed in the holster. More's the pity.\n\nShe would have to be cleverer about it all. And so, here she was. She'd stolen... she'd borrowed a box, and spent some time crafting an admittedly crude set of ballots. One answer for supporting the conversation, and one for not doing so.\n\nAnd now, here she was. Returning to the office, no doubt to the delight of her coworkers. Mostly. Probably. She couldn't imagine why it would be anything else, as she began to drag a desk into the middle of the floor, and set the box and ballots down. Forgot to bring a pen - she paused, ran over to the nearest desk, and grabbed one from someone's hand to a noise of protest that went ignored. He'd probably get it back at some point.\n\nWith that done, she clambered up to stand atop the table, clapped her hands, and cleared her throat. \"My fellow reapers! I have a request for you - not on my own behalf, don't worry. But our wonderful boss, ahem, Miss Death, she needs our input. Specifically, she needs our opinions. She would like to speak with the Necromancer, that we might resolve the rail failure, but is unwilling to force it.\"\n\nDespite it all, Amelia was aware of how she was seen by her peers. A reckless fool, a destructive force, a detriment to order and to good sense. This, on occasion, made it difficult for one to get what they wanted. But people assuming you would always make the worst possible decision... that could be useful too. She grinned widely, spreading her arms.\n\n\"For the record, I think this is a terrible idea. Better that we let things build a little more, no? It should be much more fun that way. Right now, we're only getting started, am I right or am I right?\"\n\nSomeone was saying her name, she realised, finally done tuning out every sign of protest. She looked down, raising an eyebrow at Eliot, who looked to be deeply exasperated.\n\nHuh. I wonder why that is?", "username": "Lasrever", "char_name": "Amelia Dupont" }, { "text": "Aron Carvajal\n\n\n---\n\n~???? | DECIBITUS | LUCEMA REGINI\n\n---\n\n\nAh, persuasion. Public speaking. All things Aron had never excelled in during his alive-life. Quite the opposite, really. His interview skills were never going to get him anywhere he wanted - that's why he had to hone his skills so much. None of them were applicable here though. Exactly how was he going to get people on Miss Death's side.\n\nHands fiddling in his crumb-powdered pockets, Aron re-entered the lobby of Lucema Regini, blatantly avoiding eye-contact with the receptionist. \n\n'Flyers, maybe. A company-wide email?' He'd need to get to his computer for that.\n\nAs the elevator doors opened to his floor though, he found that his desk was not in its usual place. Had the receptionist fulfilled his request in some kind of roundabout, monkey's-paw manner? Tragically not. His desk had been shifted and was occupied by someone upsettingly vertical in relation to his workstation. \n\nHe registered the sneakers on the week-overdue paperwork first. Then the grand speech coming from above them.\n\nFloodgates.\n\n\"Are… ARE YOU INSANE?!\"\n\nHis voice cracked from taking on such an extreme volume. Aron practically steamrolled his way to the front of the gathering crowd, his height and bulk making short work of any unintentional obstacles. His disbelief seemed sharp and genuine. Perhaps it had not occurred to him what her scheme was?\n\nAn accusing finger was pointed up at Amelia.\n\n\"We already have people trying to walk the Rail. Walk! And you want more of that?! What the hell is wrong with you?\"\n\nNope, did not occur to him in the slightest.", "username": "banjoanjo", "char_name": "Aron Carvajal" }, { "text": "---\n\n~1444 | PARIS | FASHION SHOW VENUE\n\n---\n\n\n\nVera heard Edward shouting from afar, again, but the words didn't mean anything to her, she was in the moment, swinging her sword, cutting through bone, just a dead woman fighting a dead dragon in a duel to whatever came after the end of the dream or nightmare that Vera called undeath. Maybe it was better this way. Fight to fight. Battle to Battle. War to war. Change was only surface deep, nothing ever truely changed. She was the same. The world was the same. Her enemies were the same. No one knew what they were fighting for. Not really.\n\nShe could see flames emerging from the maimed dragon. She could sense a challenge. They had wasted too much time. Lucian was down for the count. His wounds would be severe. There was no time for caution.\n\nSmiling for a fleeting movement, Vera ignored the compulsion to defend, it was a habit instilled by the constraints of mortality, death was no mystery to the dead, and she did not worry. A good soldier knew when to gamble.\n\nTwisting her sword free accompanied by the unwilling crack of splintering bone teeth, Vera swung her freshly freed sword upwards aiming to cleave the dragon's shattered skull into two from within.", "username": "Abstract Proxy", "char_name": "V E R A" } ]

[ { "text": "Lucian\n\n---\n\n~1430 | PARIS | FASHION SHOW VENUE\n\n---\n\n\nLucian was in his element. Fashion shows were like a second home to him. While he often got lost in his day to day life, the directionally challenged Lucian was able to perfectly navigate any venue. It was as though his compass' north star was the nearest dressing room.\n\nUnlike his compatriots, Lucian was not a literal who within a fashion venue. No, his time on the runway made his face (but more importantly, his body) known to everyone in the fashion world. It wouldn't normally have been an issue, but his death was listed within celebrity magazines almost immediately. Of course, Lucian didn't exactly have the presence of mind to be aware of this fact. No, he was the sort of person to instantly cause a PR disaster on accident.\n\nIt was a good thing Lucian also had quickly tuned out Sigrun before she suggested to converse with the industry. No, Lucian had become preoccupied with something quite critical:\n\nCubes of cheese on toothpicks.\n\nHe was busy spiriting the little devils away while nobody was looking.\n\nFrankly, it didn't quite matter if someone was watching. They'd simply see a bit of cheese float into the air and subsequently vanish. Instead, what caused him to keep it secret was the massive guilt about eating something so bad for him. Like a toddler without object permanence, if someone didn't see him eat it, it was like it never happened.\n\nThankfully, he remained close enough to the rest of the reapers that he could jump in if something happened.", "username": "OwO", "char_name": "Lucian Harland" }, { "text": "Amelia Dupont\n\n---\n\n~???? | DECIBITUS | LUCEMA REGINI\n\n---\n\n\n\n\"What do you mean, banned from Paris?\"\n\n\"I don't make the rules, Miss Dupont.\"\n\n\n\n---\n\n\nAmelia had been in a poor mood today. For various reasons, her gun sat heavy at her hip, and she was under very clear instructions that she didn't get to fire it here. Not even a little. Her pockets were light, as they so often seemed to be, but there was only one job on the board, and after the last time she'd been back home, it seemed that Amelia couldn't take it. Not by her own choice.\n\nThey really did hold a grudge over simple misunderstandings up here. Or at home? It was unclear where the blame lay.\n\nInconvenient, how these things panned out. It had her heading to the lobby anyway, in hopes that there'd be some last-minute panic, or failing that, that she'd find someone to talk to. It hadn't been too long since she last spoke with the boss, and she was pretty sure she was close to getting the terrifying immortal on-board with workplace pranks, so that was always an avenue to pursue. She would need to prepare for that, mind you, given how good their other bosses seemed to be at tracking these things to their root cause. The sacrifices she made to liven up their workplace were great, and measurable in disciplinary pay-cuts.\n\nShe wondered if there was a limit on those. Did reapers have a union? Then again, they also tended to impose standards, didn't they... \n\nClearly there was no solution to this. Elliot would tell her that she could just 'stop making suggestions', but other than that, there was no solution. Things would have to continue as they were, in that case: his assignment of blame to her was doubtless another excuse to keep her from walking the mayor.\n\nShe'd been standing in the lobby for some time now, the receptionist looking upon her with some measure of unjustified suspicion. looking for an excuse to act, the sound of panting caught her attention, and she looked towards it with a wicked grin.\n\nWell, well. Speak of the devil, and he shall appear with his little dog.\n\nNo doubt he would be thrilled to see her; Mochi would, at least. He always was.\n\n\"Elliot! You look harried. Looking for something? Need help? Someone to keep Mochi company while you run around?\" She spun around to look at the man, bouncing on her heels a little. \"Apparently, I can't be in Paris because I am 'not to be trusted', so I would like to have something to do.\"", "username": "Lasrever", "char_name": "Amelia Dupont" } ]

[ { "text": "Edward Bennigan\n\n\n\n---\n\n\n~1442 | PARIS | FASHION SHOW VENUE\n\n\n---\n\n\n\nHe did it. That bastard did it. Upon breaking the skull, Edward realized he won. Overcome with pride over his victory, he couldn't help himself but indulged in the self-perceived spotlight. Though he was still invisible to the mortal eye, he acted as though there was a crowd watching; He turned, spinning to face away from the destroyed wisp just as it started to wither away. One hand placed in front of his face, like a dramatic cut hiding his left side with the fingers spread to reveal his eye. The other hand was placed on his hip as he spoke. \n\n\"Another soul destroyed before the lord of the dead.\" Then, turning back to the wisp while he made a slashing motion with the turn of his hand, away from his face now. \"Return to ash.\" \n\nAsh.. Though his cheeses expression remained, there was a sort of somberness that grew over seeing the wisp's form wither away to nothing. A reminder of the ultimate fate to those lost souls. A cruel world it was, to be sure; but perhaps one day things could be different. Maybe..\n\nSad thoughts aside, without any direct obstacle he was free to witness his companions and their struggle with the dragon. It seemed they provoked that fascinating construct, the fools! He supposed the dragon must have been a wisp too. \n\nVery well then, it seemed he could try to help out, perhaps then they'd appreciate how great he was.\n\nHe threw two spell tags out from his robe's pockets, and with practiced finesse made a swift single motion of his arm to throw the tags at both skeletal sources he had used prior; the ruined net and the remains of the large hand.\n\nHe didn't need to recite the full spell for its written form; but he was brimming now with such hammy acting that he couldn't help himself.\n\n\"Servants of the damned, heed my call. Your lord beckons.\" He had his hand stretch out at the general direction of the two sources of the spell while he continued, already the spell tags seemed to burn away as the skeletal masses began to shape themselves once more. \"Rise and serve the master of death!\"\n\nWith that, the two mess of bones had collected, morphed, and assembled into two generic human skeletons. Their eyes alight with dark magic which also seemed to tether faintly around their joints and outline.\n\nHe turned around to face his new opponent, then once again brought his hand out forward.\n\n\"Go fourth and conquer!\" The skeletons moved like soldiers towards the dragon, though given their speed and distance they wouldn't be able to assist right away. Perhaps they ultimately wouldn't be needed by the time they did. In any case, Edward wasn't ready to slow down; even if he preferred to not destroy the dragon.\n\nHe did a brief flourish with his staff as he called out to Lucian and Vera. \n\n\"Your struggle is over, for your great and powerful Edward is here now!\" \n\nLightning coiled from the staff's tip as he spun the weapon in his hand, then he stopped the staff; tilting it towards the beast that had just shotgun-fired his comrade. \n\n\"Perish!\" \n\nLightning arced across the air between Edward and the Dragon as he unleashed the staff's power. \nProxy@OwO@ERode", "username": "dragonmancer", "char_name": null }, { "text": "Amelia Dupont\n\n---\n\n~???? | DECIBITUS | LUCEMA REGINI\n\n---\n\n\n\nAmelia was faced, now, with a problem. As she made her way back towards the office, she was contemplating it quite fiercely. She had to solve the dilemma ahead of her, of course, but how to do so? Rallying support had never been her forte, as she had never seen much reason to give a shit about those who her charms failed to win over. Such matters were boring, and frequently futile.\n\nAnd yet, she wanted to make Miss Death happy, if she could. Or whatever approximated happy for her, at least; the woman's relationship with most feelings was a riddle Amelia had yet to find all of the answers for.\n\nSo she made her way back to the office, and for once, she had been thinking before she acted, because if she didn't think, she might not achieve the most entertaining of results. She wanted to see what would happen if MD and the necromancer were to speak, and she hoped a little bit that she might get to see. Things grew stale, and the current situation wasn't sustainable anyway. As reckless as she may have seemed (and been), Amelia had little interest in fading away because the afterlife grew overcrowded and went to shit. She wanted a good death, she wanted action, wanted that thrill that had shot through her being when...\n\nYes, it would be bad to let things grow stale. Terrible indeed. She considered, of course, the obvious option. There had been stern words about improper use of her weapon. Words that Uchi and Eliot had felt a great need to stress to her, even. But even if she knew she wouldn't pull the trigger, pointing it tended to rush along the decisions that people made, and in a favourable direction to boot. Ultimately, though, she discarded the idea. It would be foolish to lose her station, and there were lines that one could not cross. Besides, she wasn't maliciously unhinged, and she didn't enjoy the prospect of unmaking people if they took her actions as aggressive.\n\nNo, the gun stayed in the holster. More's the pity.\n\nShe would have to be cleverer about it all. And so, here she was. She'd stolen... she'd borrowed a box, and spent some time crafting an admittedly crude set of ballots. One answer for supporting the conversation, and one for not doing so.\n\nAnd now, here she was. Returning to the office, no doubt to the delight of her coworkers. Mostly. Probably. She couldn't imagine why it would be anything else, as she began to drag a desk into the middle of the floor, and set the box and ballots down. Forgot to bring a pen - she paused, ran over to the nearest desk, and grabbed one from someone's hand to a noise of protest that went ignored. He'd probably get it back at some point.\n\nWith that done, she clambered up to stand atop the table, clapped her hands, and cleared her throat. \"My fellow reapers! I have a request for you - not on my own behalf, don't worry. But our wonderful boss, ahem, Miss Death, she needs our input. Specifically, she needs our opinions. She would like to speak with the Necromancer, that we might resolve the rail failure, but is unwilling to force it.\"\n\nDespite it all, Amelia was aware of how she was seen by her peers. A reckless fool, a destructive force, a detriment to order and to good sense. This, on occasion, made it difficult for one to get what they wanted. But people assuming you would always make the worst possible decision... that could be useful too. She grinned widely, spreading her arms.\n\n\"For the record, I think this is a terrible idea. Better that we let things build a little more, no? It should be much more fun that way. Right now, we're only getting started, am I right or am I right?\"\n\nSomeone was saying her name, she realised, finally done tuning out every sign of protest. She looked down, raising an eyebrow at Eliot, who looked to be deeply exasperated.\n\nHuh. I wonder why that is?", "username": "Lasrever", "char_name": "Amelia Dupont" } ]

[ { "text": "Lucian\n\n---\n\n~1430 | PARIS | FASHION SHOW VENUE\n\n---\n\n\nLucian was in his element. Fashion shows were like a second home to him. While he often got lost in his day to day life, the directionally challenged Lucian was able to perfectly navigate any venue. It was as though his compass' north star was the nearest dressing room.\n\nUnlike his compatriots, Lucian was not a literal who within a fashion venue. No, his time on the runway made his face (but more importantly, his body) known to everyone in the fashion world. It wouldn't normally have been an issue, but his death was listed within celebrity magazines almost immediately. Of course, Lucian didn't exactly have the presence of mind to be aware of this fact. No, he was the sort of person to instantly cause a PR disaster on accident.\n\nIt was a good thing Lucian also had quickly tuned out Sigrun before she suggested to converse with the industry. No, Lucian had become preoccupied with something quite critical:\n\nCubes of cheese on toothpicks.\n\nHe was busy spiriting the little devils away while nobody was looking.\n\nFrankly, it didn't quite matter if someone was watching. They'd simply see a bit of cheese float into the air and subsequently vanish. Instead, what caused him to keep it secret was the massive guilt about eating something so bad for him. Like a toddler without object permanence, if someone didn't see him eat it, it was like it never happened.\n\nThankfully, he remained close enough to the rest of the reapers that he could jump in if something happened.", "username": "OwO", "char_name": "Lucian Harland" }, { "text": "Amelia Dupont\n\n---\n\n~???? | DECIBITUS | LUCEMA REGINI\n\n---\n\n\n\n\"What do you mean, banned from Paris?\"\n\n\"I don't make the rules, Miss Dupont.\"\n\n\n\n---\n\n\nAmelia had been in a poor mood today. For various reasons, her gun sat heavy at her hip, and she was under very clear instructions that she didn't get to fire it here. Not even a little. Her pockets were light, as they so often seemed to be, but there was only one job on the board, and after the last time she'd been back home, it seemed that Amelia couldn't take it. Not by her own choice.\n\nThey really did hold a grudge over simple misunderstandings up here. Or at home? It was unclear where the blame lay.\n\nInconvenient, how these things panned out. It had her heading to the lobby anyway, in hopes that there'd be some last-minute panic, or failing that, that she'd find someone to talk to. It hadn't been too long since she last spoke with the boss, and she was pretty sure she was close to getting the terrifying immortal on-board with workplace pranks, so that was always an avenue to pursue. She would need to prepare for that, mind you, given how good their other bosses seemed to be at tracking these things to their root cause. The sacrifices she made to liven up their workplace were great, and measurable in disciplinary pay-cuts.\n\nShe wondered if there was a limit on those. Did reapers have a union? Then again, they also tended to impose standards, didn't they... \n\nClearly there was no solution to this. Elliot would tell her that she could just 'stop making suggestions', but other than that, there was no solution. Things would have to continue as they were, in that case: his assignment of blame to her was doubtless another excuse to keep her from walking the mayor.\n\nShe'd been standing in the lobby for some time now, the receptionist looking upon her with some measure of unjustified suspicion. looking for an excuse to act, the sound of panting caught her attention, and she looked towards it with a wicked grin.\n\nWell, well. Speak of the devil, and he shall appear with his little dog.\n\nNo doubt he would be thrilled to see her; Mochi would, at least. He always was.\n\n\"Elliot! You look harried. Looking for something? Need help? Someone to keep Mochi company while you run around?\" She spun around to look at the man, bouncing on her heels a little. \"Apparently, I can't be in Paris because I am 'not to be trusted', so I would like to have something to do.\"", "username": "Lasrever", "char_name": "Amelia Dupont" }, { "text": "Aron Carvajal\n\n\n---\n\n~???? | DECIBITUS | LUCEMA REGINI\n\n---\n\n\n\"D-doesn't have to be like right now but maybe, I dunno, there's like a waiting list? Some request backlog?\"\n\nThe receptionist's gaze turned steelier, and though the logical part of his brain told him it was very clearly directed at someone behind him, Aron gulped.\n\n\"...if it's not too much trouble.\" He took a thick forearm off the reception desk to scratch at his beard sheepishly.\n\nThe lady muttered something under her breath (something about collateral reports?) and looked back at her screen. \"I'll put the request for a desk relocation in. For one Aron Carvajal… reason: …'the rats keep breaking in'. Is that correct?\"\n\n\"I… wouldn't phrase it like that exactly…\"\n\n\"And these rats are coming from…?\"\n\n\"The bloke next to me likes to collect - or he has this spell or something - well, he has a bunch of them. And he keeps losin' them. And I guess there are snacks in my drawers and it's hard to remember with all the papers in 'em sooo…\"\n\n\"You guess?\"\n\n\"I. Yeah.\"\n\nShe continued typing but brought a hand to knead at the bridge of her nose. \"And you can't just… clean your desk to prevent them from smelling whatever's in there?\"\n\n\"I. It's.\" He coughed. \"I, uh, don't come in very often?\"\n\nThe 'yip!' of a noble saviour shook Aron from the awkwardness of the situation, followed by the pattering of corgi paws making its way through the lobby. At last, an ally in his quest for a rat-free desk. Aron took a moment to search his shorts pockets before surreptitiously shaking a half-crushed sleeve of cookies in Mochi's direction.\n\n\"You know you'd have to clean your desk anyway to actually move, right?\"\n\n\"Solid point. Yeah. …A-are you still going to put the request through?\"", "username": "banjoanjo", "char_name": "Aron Carvajal" }, { "text": "Edward Bennigan\n\n\n\n---\n\n\n~1430 | PARIS | FASHION SHOW VENUE\n\n\n---\n\n\n\nEdward had always hated crowd. He was never fond of cities either. He didn't think he'd have to relive such claustrophobia after dying, yet here he was. Another job for the afterlife. At least he didn't have to force his way through a crowd, being incorporeal had its perks. The wizard was deep in thought as he drifted through the crowds, not bothering to show himself nor engaging in the event.\n\nDespite his reluctance on the assignment, a prevention job seemed apt enough. A job that doesn't necessarily mean anything drastic will happen, and yet will also provide experience. Still, the lack of any specific task meant that until shit hit the fan, if it even would, he was more or less stuck at this..this 'fashion' venue.\n\nA scoff at the very idea. What could be more fashionable then a sick eyepatch and an entire set of robes that highlighted how much of a master of the arcane he was. Aside from the food, there was little to enjoy from this locale. He had standards, unlike a more empty-headed coworker that was already indulging himself in cheese. \n\nWell, at the very least he could study the target of intrigue. It was curious how this mortal somehow drew in so many dangerous spirits that would even warrant such a vague job to begin with. Perhaps the true culprit is a cursed placed on her. Or maybe its something to do with a horrible tragedy. He was vaguely aware of charlatan spiritualists, who failed to even account for a city in the afterlife, that would make comments on how emotions can attract spirits. Was that even true? Its not like Edward himself was ever drawn in by such an affect. Hogwash, most likely. \n\nFor now, he'd have to settle on following this Celeste character. The necromancer came to a stop as he spotted the target of interest. Though, whatever curiosities he had about her curse or what have you was overshadowed by the larger specter stalking just behind her. Nevermind the other ghosts that followed, there was a god-damned skeletal behemoth just behind her. A dragon? That alone raised so many questions. Dragons weren't real animals, right? That couldn't just be a ghost. And yet the nature suggested skeletal remains. Perhaps its some form of, magical being? No, no this was extremely unusual. The bodies of ghosts are more based on will then their actual living bodies, true, yet this was too specific. It wasn't just a monster, but the apparent remains of one. \n\nMore important than that, this was an amazing reference. His imagination ran wild with what he could do to re-create such a spirit of bones. Perhaps he could raid a museum for parts or try to sculpt the shapes of the more unnatural bones from scratch. No, he needed a sketch first. Detailed sketches. \n\nEdward hovered closer to the trail of spirits. He kept a distance behind so as to avoid a direct disturbance, but kept close enough so that he could maintain a good angle to begin sketching the creature. With his tome in one hand, and a pen in the other, he drew furiously multiple sketches of the monster. A stupid, wild grin on his face as all manner of thoughts and plans as to his next, newly inspired project raced through his head.", "username": "dragonmancer", "char_name": null } ]

[ { "text": "Things aren't what it beheld in this elseworld, & elsewhere was just alienating yet fleeting as it can be, like awakening from blissful dreams that seemed endlessly bizarre like the scent of the intoxicating burning bush.\n\n\"A whole new world, a new fantastic point of view.\" To think that I... I would star in an Isekai, who would have thought that the satire consumed media for those foolish Otaku ended up being true! This hocus-pocus seemed like the doing of reincarnation, perhaps by Buddhism or Shintoism. Who knows. The only thing that I know is that this isn't a dream, it is reality. Wake up to reality. A new normal, a new beginning. An adventure with the first chapter & empty pages that yet to be told for the tale has just begun.\n\nWhether I'd be the Hero or the Villain, every world has its precepts to unwrap, every living soul, whether they like it or not, has a role to play. I've known that well, for I am the Hasegawa Kyōka, one of Japan's finest Actresses.\n\nNo matter, if confused I am. Then method acting is the way I may cope with this insanity & it will be my remedy to have clairty. It would seemed that I am not alone in this bizarre adventure. I won't falter in this alter world. \n\nI'm pretty sure that I would attract enough attention as a famed actress known for Alice in Gangland, if these people originate from the same world as I!", "username": "Indrajita", "char_name": null }, { "text": "\"Ohhh, gods have mercy!\"\n\nWhen the lid popped open, Zell sat up slowly, eyes squint from the light. For a second, he didn't register the cries of anguish coming the old man nearby. He shook his head, trying to shake the cobwebs from his mind, placing a hand on his forehead for comfort. \"Ugh. What happened?\"\n\nThe last thing he could remember was leaving campus to head to the shops. He remembered Alex, his friend, offering to come along. He refused, said it was fine. Then... nothing. Just a complete blank.\n\nOdd.\n\nPalm still on his forehead, he suddenly became aware of his surroundings, his eyes darting left and right. then slowly but surely he turned his head to lock eyes with an old man, naked as the day he was born, staring right back.\n\n\"!!!\"\n\n\"Agh, don't hurt me!\" the old man yelled.\n\n\"Huh? No, I'm not gonna...\" He started to get up, and the old man mirrored him. \"Agh! No, don't get up!\" he blurted out, not eager to see the junk of an elderly gentlemen. \"I errr... you just stay... in there. I'm not going to hurt you, just err... you stay right there, kay.\"\n\nStood up, he looked over his shoulder to see the outside world, looked down to see he was stood in some sort of stone coffin, and also realised he waas dressed strangely and even had a sword on him. Before he could even process all of this new information, an old woman appeared in the doorway and started hollering all manner of curse words.\n\n\"Why you...! You see what you did to my house, you thrice-cursed adventurer bastard!\" she thundered. \"You better have gold to pay for this!\"\n\n\"Lilian, be careful...\"\n\n\"Shut up, Edric, you big coward,\" she shot back the man who had to be her husband.\n\nA one sided grin grew on Zell's face as he appraised the spirited old woman, but it disappeared when she brandished a broomstick and charged him. \"What the...\"\n\n\"You self-absorbed, negligent, think-you're-so-special piece of...\" she swung at Zell who backed up and fell backwards over and out of the coffin. The old woman did not halt her advance, or her swinging. \"I see that source crystal in your hand, think you're so special because you have the gift...\"\n\nZell's agility had him instantly back on his feet, and he backed up further, through the broken wall of the house and out into the square, still having to avoid the attacks. \"I don't know what's going on... jeez, lady chill... don't you see a have a fucking sword.\"\n\nZell was caught between chuckling, indignation and straight-up confusion, all topped with the heavy dose of what-the-fuck. Finally she stopped, a heavy breath of resignation and a sneer at Zell before she turned about and threw her hands up at her destroyed house. \"How in Mytheria do I fix this!?\" then she shot a look at the gathering crowd in the square. \"WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT!?\" she screamed, then stormed back through the brand new door of her house to the flustered moaning of her husband. \"Shut up Edric!\" was the last thing anyone heard.\n\nZell watched them disappear further into the house. He was left with a tonne of questions, but decided to put them away for now. Then he turned around to see a host of other people next to another half-dozen coffins. He smiled awkwardly, scratching the the back of his head, his other hand gave a wave. \"Hi,\" he greeted. \"Ummm, anyone have any idea of what the fuck is going on?\"", "username": "Saiyan", "char_name": null }, { "text": "\"Hey you two wouldn't happen to know what the hells going on would you?\" When MacKensie caught sight of the giant of a man carrying the ship anchor, her eyebrows shot up. He must've been seven feet tall, the young woman reckoned, only seeming to get taller as he neared the group. \"Cause I have no clue where I am right now.\"\n\nAs she was deciding wether to speak up or not, another soaking wet individual drew her attention with an exclaimation and the large cracking sound. Seeing the confusion written all over his face, she realised that he too was one of them. Whatever 'one of them' was. MacKensie was as full of questions as the others were. She looked back at the coffin forebodingly, then had a flashback of her final moments in that plane. All of her friends; the team, the coaches, screaming for their lives on a plane nosediving into the canyon.\n\nThe terror. The impact.\n\nMacKensie shivered as she came back to reality. To wallow in such invasive thoughts would cripple her mind right now. Her expression changed when, in the coffin she was looking at, she realised she'd left some things behind. Reaching over and taking out the equipment, she recovered backpack, a weapon belt, a long dagger and a gauntlet.\n\nShe fastened the belt around her waist and the sheathed dagger fit nicely on her left hip. The one-handed crossbow clipped onto the belt at the small of her back. The gauntlet was strange. She put it on her left hand and felt some kind of 'chill' up her arm. It wasn't uncomfortable, just noticeable. In fact it was the opposite of uncomfortable, more like a feeling of attunement. She didn't know what the gauntlet did, all she knew was it was special, and it was right at home on her left arm.\n\nIn addition to the older woman with the bow, the two muscular men stood together and the young man sat on the bench, MacKensie noticed another had appeared; a stunningly beautiful japanese woman. She found herself staring a little at her, who seemed out of place in her kimono and makeup, even among the entire group who seemed out of place themselves. Unless this was indeed somewhere near Tokyo, where the Olympics were being held. But surely not? This place didn't look like anything one might see in Asia or any continent for that matter. The buildings, the clothing of the people... it was as if they'd travelled through time.\n\n\"You self-absorbed, negligent, think-you're-so-special piece of...!\"\n\nMackensie turned around to see a man backing out a house towards them and an old woman attacking him with a broom. The whole scene played out in front of her and it was like a car crash - she simply couldn't turn away. When it was over...\n\n\"Hi,\" the new arrival greeted. MacKensie covered her quiet chuckle with her fingers. The comedic moment certainly lightened the mood. \"Ummm, anyone have any idea of what the fuck is going on?\"\n\n\"I don't think any of us here do,\" she finally spoke, looking at the group to see if anyone would challenge that notion. It seemed not. \"I umm... I woke up here after I...\"\n\nI died. It was so difficult to say out loud. How could she have died, it just didn't make sense.\n\n\"I was on a plane before I ended up here. But I can't make sense of any of it. Does anyone know what country this is? My team and I were on our way to Japan. For the Olympics.\"", "username": "Zool", "char_name": null }, { "text": "The first thing that James' newly awakened mind noticed was the cold feeling that permeated his body, the second thing was the memory of the flames and the situation he had found himself in just a moment ago.\n\n'Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit!' Without thinking it twice he kicked the piece of debris that had fallen above him, just enough to pry it open with his crowbar thankful all the while that it hadn't fallen directly on top of him, what he wasn't expecting however was the lack of burning building or the apparently medieval town he found himself in, looking around all he could see was townfolk(?) and a group of people that seemed as confused and bewildered as he felt.\n\n\"What the fuc-\"\n\nA bunch of voices interrupted him, some screaming and some barely whispering but it was enough to make his mind refocus on the current situation, on one hand he didn't know where he was and wasn't sure how he arrived here, on the other screams, the heat of the fire and sheer soul-crushing TERROR as a piece of debris headed towards him... yeah maybe it was better to not think about all that right now.\n\nWith no other thing to occupy his mind with he looked at his feet earning himself another surprise, he wasn't wearing pajamas anymore now his attire looked something like modified baggy robes of some sort with some kind of prayer-like thing tied around his right hand, his crowbar had become some kind of heavy staff and a strange gem was incrusted on his hand. All in all, he was left with more questions than he started with, looking around again his gaze affixed itself on the group he had noticed before, looking closely he could see that they all wore clothing that was distinctive and they all also possessed the same crystal in a hand.\n\n'Hell why not?' With that last thought he started walking to join the rest of the group, with some luck they would have an answer to whatever was going on.", "username": "Teyao", "char_name": null } ]

[ { "text": "Multithink. To deliberately believe in lies, while knowing they're false. Reality is, as a matter of fact, subjective, as one's reality might just be an illusion to another.\n\nSo to defend ourselves, and fight against assimilating this dullness into our thought processes, we must learn to read. To stimulate our own imagination, to cultivate our own consciousness, our own belief systems. We all need skills to defend, to preserve, our own minds. I know that painfully enough as an Actress & it's a fact that remains a constant disposition as I discerned that not only me, but everyone who got Isekai'd in this world are perplexed by the past, present and the eventual future.\n\nI sensed that the atmosphere breezed through a paradigm shift, adapting remains a wonder.\n\nHuh? This woman... The Olympics. An athlete? I recalled the Japanese Emperor holding a ceremony in silence that day, the Olympics on the other hand... Didn't look so good. Should I tell her though? Maybe later, either she accept the harsh reality or not.\n\nWhat's this? A grumbling loud man with an allegation matter at hand. This world is truly something else.\n\nI said ara ara~.\n\nWhat? Seems like Isekai-shenanigans permit me to speak the common tongue. Reminds me of that kusoge: Faith Last/Order.\n\n\"My..my. Is that how you address someone with heavenly mandate and of high-esteemed position of a Noble & what more of an Actress and a Producer? I reckon your prosecution process is a mere probing method to sniff out potential threats, yes? I have you reassured that these mongrel peasants, who are aspiring performers are given a once in a life time privilege to the project I ought to endorse to thy majesty.\n\nPerhaps you wouldn't mind if you do us a favor and go our separate ways? I wouldn't mind giving you a handsome reward in return, my dear boy.\"\n \n\nOk. How can I feel embarrassed and turned-on at the same time? Did I just flirt with such a man? I feel like I went too far, and this may just raise more questions than answers. This is an Isekai right and apart from those who got Isekai'd, the townsfolk are just NPCs right? Surely there should be a King or a Queen? I said majesty...now I'm just trying to save everyone from being unlawfully arrested, I intended to ditch them and save my own hide but that would mean repeating history. Heck, we might be under a Pope or a Dictator, I dunno!\n\nI gazed upon the presence of these people and winked.\n\n\"Every Actor has a role to play now, don't you think?\"", "username": "Indrajita", "char_name": null }, { "text": "'Maybe becoming part of this group was a mistake'\n\nFirst, there were the guards (fucking cops?) coming to arrest them for doing... something, he still wasn't sure if it was for the smashed house or the disturbance of the peace that the confused and possibly mentally unwell group of people (himself included) had caused. Hell for everything he knew falling from the sky in a stone coffin was illegal or some such in whatever the hell this place was, still he would have complied and tried to get some answers but then they had to draw actual fucking swords at them, the maybe deranged group of people with weapons (and a shovel, and a briefcase, and a fishing pole, an...) which didn't speak for someone that desired a peaceful resolution, made worse by the fact that they were twice as many as his little group. Watching the big guy and the woman with the bow trying to calm down the situation made his nerves settle somewhat, good to know that at least the people he was grouped with were calm and collec-\n\n\"Every Actor has a role to play now, don't you think?\"\n'Ah fuck'\n\nOkay, scrap that, there was a really good chance the captain or whatever he was decided that it was easier to subdue than to talk with a bunch of people who may very well be actually insane. The seriousness of the situation settled a bit more and more, each second felt like he once again was in over his head and for a second he felt as if he was back in the fire again.\n\nHis breath started to get heavy and he felt himself flush, he needed to cool down he didn't want to die!, he needed to remain calm he was burning!, panic wouldn't help his situation anyone! please! HELP!!!, he just needed to endure.\n\nIt felt like a dam breaking. The feeling was heavy and freezing but in a pleasant way, like a bath after working out or the feeling of a cold drink on a hot day, it swept and crushed the panic that moments ago was threatening to engulf him leaving behind a dazed clarity and a strange sense that he had never felt before, plus a very clear set of words inscribed themselves on his mind.\n\nRaising the now-comfortable symbol in a two-handed grip he brought it close to his face, less than an inch away from his mouth, and then he prayed in a whispery, almost intimate manner.\n\n\"I call to you Lord Undaya, Ruler of the seas and King of the ocean, bestow upon us your blessing, to be as cold and unwavering as you are in the deep below\"\n\nHe felt several things happen at the same time, first some sort of transparent energy enveloped himself and his allies, in particular it rushed to the one with the anchor in an almost eager fashion, then once the energy settled he felt like a hundred small things that he never noticed stop bothering him and a certainty that his body was simply more resilient for the time being. Then the knowledge of the payment for casting such a thing came to the front of his mind like a sledgehammer and he lost the stunned lucidity that had enveloped him.\n\n\"What do you mean 'Go jump in a river'!?\"\n\nThe sound of crashing waves that almost sounded like laughter was all the answers he got.", "username": "Teyao", "char_name": null }, { "text": "It seemed they were all in the same boat, they had no idea what was going on. Aruther looked over the group and then himself as he wondered if maybe he was dreaming? 'No this feels to real to be a dream.' He thought before he noticed a the crowed that had gathered start to part and a group of armed...soldiers..guards...well what ever they were they had sharp pointy swords and looked angry. He tighted his grip on the anchor he held as he watched them encase them in a semi circle. 'There trying to box us in so it's harder for us to run or they don't like our answers. Smart.'\n \n \"Out of the frying pan and into the fire.\" He mumbled to himself as he got ready in case he had to defend himself. The leader of these stated barking at them to explain themselves. This caused Arthur to chuckle. 'Oh I wish I could. Though I guess that does answers what they are.' He thought as the others tried to diffuse the situation. Arthur just stood back and tried his best to look nonthreatening, and probably failing. 'Lets hope they are better at talking than me, otherwise we are so fucked.' \n\n He looked once again at the crystal embedded in the back of his hand and then at all the others then back to the leader of guards and was reminded of one of his a few CO's he'd worked under, the hardass no nonesense kind. 'Let's hope I'm wrong. And there goes the fancy one lying through there teeth. Welp they tried.' He shook his head as the fancy girl winked at them. If they lived through this he was going to strangle the little gremlin.", "username": "Goblinguy", "char_name": null } ]

[ { "text": "Fenna let out a sigh, of course the leader of the guards didn't believe her explanation. Would she if she was in his place? Nothing of what they said made it even better and her hands slowly moved to one of her daggers in case she'd need to defend herself. Would she let them arrest her? Or was it better to attempt to flee? The glow that appeared around them was curious, but not more than waking up in a strange world like this.\n\nThings suddenly changed when an enemy approached and now the leader requested their help. Of course, with all their weapons they looked capable, but was she? Could she really help in a battle with unknown enemies, with a weapon she never even used before? \n\nShe glanced to the brown-haired man when he mentioned that if this was real they should do the right ting and help these people, but that they also should stay close and that they'd need to work together. This sentiment was shared with the woman who carried a crossbow. That made sense and she nodded. They had to help them. These people didn't seem like the bad guys. Especially the frightened children. \n\n\"I'll join you at the gate as soon as I can,\" she said. \"I'll make sure no-one is left behind and that their path ahead is clear.\" The first people were already going westward, and she directed some people who left their houses after the sound of the bell in the same direction, urging them to make haste. She started checking the houses on the east side of the village to see if everyone had started to evacuate. In one she found a young woman packing clothes and some valuables. \n\"Don't take too much,\" she urged the woman. \"It will only slow you down. Put some food in a blanket, grab your child and go to the west.\"\nThe young mother, at the brink of tears, nodded and did what she said.", "username": "Calle", "char_name": null }, { "text": "Two. Hundred. Fucking. Skeletons.\n\nWas this dude for real?\n\nZell turned and looked around as the shouted proclamations began. Citizens began emptying out of their homes with sacks of their most precious belongings. Hasty. Scared. Crying. Atop the din was the ever-ringing alarm bell. Zell drew the sword off his back once again, this time with a sudden urge to test the edge of the blade, or more pertinently, test the integrity of his flesh. With one finger caressed the keen edge of his sword and recoiled with the slight pain. A little blood dripped where the blade had cut him.\n\n\"Holy shit,\" he said aloud.\n\nThis was real. This whole entire clusterfuck was real. All the mounting questions he had - dozens of questions - whatever the answers were... they'd be real. Inhaling a big breath, he turned back to the young guy who spoke up first about the request (The 'Contract' - another mystery.)\n\nHe spoke bravely, Zell was impressed. And too the French girl was in agreeance. He caught her eye for a second and his trademark, cocky one-sided grin appeared as she scowled at him. Jerk. That made him chuckle. He was a bit of a jerk, he could admit that about himself. And she was even cuter when she was flustered.\n\nThe American farmer and the European woman went the opposite way to the rest of the group. Zell assumed they were evacuating with the citizenry. Smart move really. What business did they have fighting god-damn skeletons and ogres. Still, Zell's pride would not allow him to flee while the others were going to help, and so he twirled his sword around him like something one'd see in a movie, gained confidence from his confirmation that he had the skill to do it, then sheathed his weapon and ran after the others toward the eastern gate.\n\nHe was close enough to hear them introducing themselves. \"You can call me Zell,\" he offered as he ran past them and jumped the first eight rungs of the palisade ladder and started climbing up top. \"Cheers James! Much appreciated!\" he shouted down after the man explained his sudden rush of energy and mental fortitude. One mystery down, ninety-nine to go.\n\nAtop the palisade he finally saw the reason for the evacuation and fear coursed through his veins amongst the adrenaline. Terror, in fact. It was all he could do not to show it. He walked slowly along the palisade wall, past a few townguard posted with bows, looking out across the vista at the slowly approaching horde. The ogres were huge! Zell's heart was racing. His teeth were clenched. There was no more 'cocky frat boy.' Just a man with a sword who's pride wouldn't let him run even though his brain was screaming FLEE - A man who's mind was racing with thoughts of what these monsters would do if they caught those citizens. Those children. He had to steel himself. He had to stop them.\n\n\"You were right Commander,\" he said loudly to the Commander in earshot. \"Seems no one knows how we got here...\" it was really an effort to keep the tremble out of his voice. \"...but we're here now, and there's innocent lives on the line.\" The rest of his words seemed like they were more for himself than anyone else. \"I've spent my life being a selfish asshole, tee-bee-hache... time to do something worth my time! Wooo!\"\n\nThe Ric Flair sound-off was unnecessarily loud but Zell didn't care. He had to let off some steam before he burst into bloody flames. He drew the sword off his back and pointed it at the coming horde. \"Let's go motherfuckers!\"", "username": "Saiyan", "char_name": null }, { "text": "As Adam walked towards the wooden gate, he took a moment to wonder if anyone else from the group had even bothered to listen to him. He never felt like he was the best at speeches, but the logic was sound, so that had to help, right? The woman with the long, light-brown hair next to him seemed to want to help somehow with the evacuation, but he didn't know about the rest. Then the man noticed an aura around him that wasn't there before. It wasn't the strangest thing that had happened today, but Adam had to wonder how long it had been there for. Was it some kind of thing that appears when someone decides to fight here? Wherever \"here\" was, anyway. No, that wasn't right, because the \"commander\" didn't have one and he-\n\nThe thoughts were interrupted by a hand on his shoulder and the words \"let's do this.\" Adam was slightly startled for a moment; he had been too deep within his own mind to expect that, and told himself to be more alert when the fighting started. Looking at the source of those words, he saw a woman who was frankly not bad looking. \"Scared easily and my pants are wet, great first impression,\" the man thought as his cheeks unconsciously turned a light shade of red, \"first person who's been nice to me since I died though.\" Adam smiled at the woman and responded with a sincere \"of course.\" He wanted to talk to her more, but he saw three more people join their ragtag group. It would be good to know everyone he'd be fighting with, plus it'd be rude to just ignore them.\n\nAs Arthur, Zell and James introduced themselves, Adam noted the latter's point about his \"hocus pocus\" and began thinking once again. \"One mystery solved, and that's certainly useful. Maybe we all have some kind of power? Best to figure that out after I follow everyone's lead though.\" \"I'm Adam,\" he said respectfully to everyone, \"nice to meet all of you, and thanks for helping.\" Turning to face the blonde-haired woman again, he continued. \"I don't think I got-\" Before the man could ask for MacKensie's name, Adam was interrupted by a yell:\n\n\"Let's go motherfuckers!\" \n\nCaught off guard by Zell's declaration, the non-swearing man reluctantly decided that he could wait on her name. \"Uh, I guess we're fighting now. Good luck everyone, and please be careful.\"", "username": "Zapdos", "char_name": null }, { "text": "\"Names Arthur, figure if we're gonna be fighting and maybe dying together we at least should know each others names.\"\n\nMacKensie nodded as she looked up at the mountain of a man. Of all the group, she was most glad that he was on board with idea to help. He looked like he could more than handle himself, carrying around that metal anchor like it was nothing. Then James introduced himself and explained the magical energy she was feeling was his handiwork. So he is a wizard, she thought. Huh. It seemed the case that all of them had been gifted with astonishing abilities. She too could feel something of an enhancement in her body's movements, particularly when she drew her one-handed crossbow quicker than a hiccup.\n\n\"How do you do,\" she greeted all of them. \"I'm Mac-\"\n\n\"You can call me Zell.\" Zell flew past them as he interrupted her, her ire for him flickering once more. So that was his name. Not that she cared.\n\nAdam introduced himself and MacKensie was quick to echo his sentiments to James. \"Yes, I believe your magic will be very useful. Thank you.\"\n\n\"Uh, I guess we're fighting now. Good luck everyone, and please be careful.\"\n\n\"Best of luck. We can get through this,\" MacKensie said, making a fist in front of her. Then she remembered, \"Oh, and my name is MacKensie. MacKensie Trydant.\" She bobbed in a quick curtsy, then went and started climbing the ladder. When she got up and looked out over the field, \"Sacre bleu,\" a chill ran up her spine. Her eagle eyes scanned the approaching raiders - ogres that must have been 10 feet tall. Animated skeletons moving with what could only be the power of magic, all armed, eye sockets vacant and spooky. She squinted as she caught sight of a skeleton bigger than the rest, wearing spiked armour and a helmet. The leader, she reckoned.\n\nDoubt filled her. Would the skeletons fall to her bolts? Would the ogres even feel them?\n\nStiff upper lip, Mac, she told herself, the thought coming in the voice of her father. Her mothers voice was next. You can do anything you set your mind too, my darling. You always have.\n\n\"Okay,\" she said quietly to herself. \"Calm. Focus. Don't forget to breathe.\"", "username": "Zool", "char_name": null } ]

[ { "text": "Hatboy? Well at least the woman had dropped her posh act somewhat, Clive adjusted his hat slightly \"Name's Clive,\" he'd need to excuse his lack of manners later but now wasn't no time to quibble over such nonsense \"And I reckon she has the right idea.\" he nodded to Fenna, not wasting any time she put her words to action.\n\n\"Better stick close lady,\" Clive said already following Fenna though he lagged behind for a second to look the kimono wearing woman up and down before he inclined his head to the mother \"We'll find your lil one Miss, head on with the other folk fore' you put yourself in harm's way.\" with that he left, hoping the poor lady would heed his words and get going with the other village folk.", "username": "Dark Cloud", "char_name": null }, { "text": "This was bad\n\nThis was very, very bad\n\nTwo hundred skeletons sounded like an arduous task but a doable one with the number of men that were on the walls plus the assortment of allies that were gathered here, maybe they could have even won without losing anyone using just some little bit of strategy or if the walls had held, that plan, unfortunately, was shot in an alleyway, it's pockets picked clean and its body left in a dumpster the moment the Ogres appeared and broke the gates, even worse was that the enemy leader seemed to be happy to let its minions do the dirty work, they needed to do somethi-\n\nHis musings were interrupted by the actions of his two party members(?), Arthur made his intent on dealing with the Berserker Ogre evident while Adam didn't waste time and somehow took control of some of a log nearby (Probably got some kind of ability like how he was capable of casting a buff) and then used it to demolish groups of enemies at once before sending it towards the big skeleton in charge. Okay, okay, he could work with this, taking the special enemies' attention away from the main force was a good thing as they should be capable of repelling the skeletons (At least he hoped so). the only remaining obstacle was the big Armored Ogre but how could he get rid of it? MacKenzie was dealing with the skeletons and he didn't know where Zell was, he needed a mean to fight back, something like the buff he had... cast... earlier...\n\nClosing his eyes and taking a deep breath he searched inside of himself hoping to find that mysterious benefactor that gave him the words to the blessing or at least something else to help him fight/distract the Armored Ogre.\n\nWhat he found was unexpected but useful.\n\nKnowledge of how to cast two different (For a lack of a better description) spells was incrusted on his mind as if they were always there and he just had never noticed, one was some kind of empowerment on treated injuries so they could be healed faster and the other a literal light beam that would be able to blind an enemy for some time. At a glance he could tell neither was as strong as the blessing he had cast earlier, it was like comparing a match to a campfire.\n\nGood but not enough, he could only use them a few times, and then he would have to contend with too many skeletons and a pissed Ogre, he needed something else, or someone.\n\n\"Hey, you there! come with me! we need to deal with that Armored Ogre or he will just keep killing more people!\"\n\nAfter a little hesitation, four Guards broke from the formation and began to make their way toward me, two were armed with short swords and shields while the other two had spears, they couldn't be much older than me and they all seemed terrified but resolute (or perhaps desperate).\n\nGiving them a nod I start making my way across the skeletons with the guards flanking me and dealing with them as they approached, the objective the big Ogre creating mayhem.\n\n\"I can blind it once it reaches us, the two with shields cover our backs from the skeletons, and the other two try to stab his legs once he is blinded\"\n\nSaying that he looked towards the Ogre in question before letting his mouth go off.\n\n\"Hey, you ugly motherfucker! Come and get me! Cucksucker! Stupid moron! Fuking swine! Rotting hog! Dungloving shithead! Fuckwhit i-\"\n\nIgnoring the looks from his town guards he began to prepare the light beam spell without stopping talking, the moment the Ogre got in range he would blind him, then it was a matter of being as annoying as he could so the Ogre focused on him rather than on them.", "username": "Teyao", "char_name": null }, { "text": "High up above the lands of Mytheria, even above the clouds, there was a great rift in the atomsphere. A tear of sorts, like a cosmic claw had ripped existence open. Lightning buzzed and zapped around it.\n\nWhat the finest scientists and mages could not have imagined...\n\nWhat the Witch Queen could not have accounted for...\n\n-----------The opening from where came the heroes of another world had not closed------------", "username": "xenon", "char_name": "Fenna's Falcon" }, { "text": "Holy shit, holy shit, holy shit... was the consistent mantra running through Zell's mind when the skeletons ascended the wall.\n\nHe lunged into a push kick, slamming his foot into the face of the first skeleton that appeared near him, sending it falling back down to the bottom of the wall. The second skelly felt the wild, panicked swing of Zell's longsword as it was halfway over the battlements, and it too was sent back where it came from. Shortly after that, he was forced to engage properly.\n\nThe skeletons were basic as hell. No real stance - no guard of the lady, no boar, no water stance, no nothing. They swung without proper use of their torso, hips and footwork to create power. They cared nothing for head movement or defense. Their swords were solidly made but maltreated. Zell noticed all of this as he parried and counter-killed his first two opponents. Amidst the constant 'holy hit!' he realised that he understood swordplay and weapons as if he'd been trained from bloody birth! It was crazy. He'd never even thought about any of this before, but it was right there in his mind, so clear, so second-nature.\n\n\"Poor distancing,\" Zell muttered as a skeleton lunged at him. He merely stepped back and to the right, before thrusting forward, the tip of his sword peircing under the chin of the enemy. With a flick of his wrist, he decapitated the skeleton.\n\nHe suddenly met eyes with MacKensie, but was shocked to see her take aim at... him? She can't be for real, he thought, wide eyed. Jesus Christ, how mad did I make her!?\n\nShe fired. Zell was frozen. He felt the wind of the bolt breeze his face. With a gasp, he looked over his shoulder to see the skeleton right behind him - one he'd not realised was even there - drop dead. She'd saved him. With a grin he looked back at her. \"Ppreciate it,\" he called out.\n\n\"This doesn't mean I like you.\"\n\nJust her presence alone was keeping him on a level, if only for the fact that he couldn't crumble and cower in front a pretty woman. He had to play it off like he didn't care - pretend to be a badass. But now she was talking trash in the middle of the battle?\n\nNo one out-did Zell when it came to trash talking on the football field. He wouldn't let it happen on a battlefield either. \"Ha! You like me. Admit it.\"\n\nAs she ran toward him, leading a chasing skeleton his way, he ran forward and with a hop-skip-jump. They crossed paths in mid air, Zell superman-punching his sword right through the chasing enemy. More followed and backed up with a parry and a slash. As he cleared the immediate danger zone in front of him, he fell back-to-back with MacKensie, regarding her over his shoulder as she commented on her powers. Seeing skeletons were closer on her side than on his, he pushed one shoulder-blade into hers to rotate them both around while staying back-to-back.\n\n\"Something incredible alright,\" he shot back as he blocked two strikes and ended another skeleton with a thrust. \"I feel like I'm in a damn video-game.\"\n\nHe saw down at the gate, that the real fight was with the ogres and they might need help down there. But there were too many skellies on the wall to get to the ladder and he was currently pinned down, his attention demanded by the flow of swords swinging in to take his life.\n\n\"Hey, you ugly motherfucker! Come and get me! Cucksucker! Stupid moron! Fuking swine! Rotting hog! Dungloving shithead! Fuckwhit i-\"\n\nZell spotted James and laughed as he fought off another boney brute in front of him. Looks like he'd have even more competition for the trash-talking challenge.\n\n\"I need to get down there and help,\" he told MacKensie behind him as they rotated again where she could now see the problems being created by the ogres and the skeleton captain. He caught an enemy blade on his swords cross-hilt, grabbed the skeleton by the wrist and snapped it before kicking it off the wall. He was a pretty strong athlete, but he felt decidedly stronger in this world. \"I'm gonna do something really fucking stupid. Cover me, kay.\"", "username": "Saiyan", "char_name": null } ]

[ { "text": "As she and Zell rotated around in some kind of back-to-back dance, MacKensie was engrossed in seeing just how far she could push these new limits of hers. A battle against living nightmares was hardly the time for experimentation (especially with so many innocent lives on the line) but with the swordsman covering her back, she found she simply could not help herself.\n\nFirst, after sheathing her dagger, she grabbed a fistful of bolts and attempted to rapid-fire six or seven bolts in a row, her free hand over her one-handed crossbow like some kind of gunslinger from a spaghetti western. She managed to drop three skeletons in the blink of an eye, but the speed she'd tried to push it to made her fumble and drop the rest of the bolts. \"Zut!\" she swore, deciding against picking them up and going back to firing regularly again, which was fast enough considering she needed to reload after every shot.\n\nShe was considering tossing a bolt into the air and trying to catch it in the firing mechanism of her crossbow, when Zell spoke up and they rotated again. Cover him? Oh dear, what was this idiot about to do now?\n\n\"I imagine you specialize in stupidity but I'd rather not die again, so whatever you are going to do it, do it well.\"\n\nFrom her position, she was able to take in the whole battlefield in all it's metal and chaos; The Beserker Ogre that Arthur seemed to be dealing with handily - impressive but not super surprising on account of everyone's powers and the fact that Arthur's body and his weapon was almost as gargantuan as the ogre's. Adam was... Adam was...! Was that really him controlling those plants!? Wow, she thought. Considering how numerous and available plant life is, and the strength of their roots, he might be the most powerful of all of us before long. And then she saw James who was surprisingly looking right back, and he was none too pleased.\n\n\n\"Zell! Stop fucking Flirting and help!\"\n\n\"Sacre bleu, this is the impression?\" MacKensie said annoyed, pinging two more headshots. She looked back down to James again, her sharp eyes following his hand signals. She blinked twice dumbly. \"He cannot be serious.\"\n\nThis was about to get crazy. She quickly placed bolts in the spaces between her fingers on both hands, then drew dagger. She was ready for whatever came next. As Zell flew past her, she jumped onto the battlements and skipped smartly along at pace, letting off shots and thinning the crowd ahead. As Zell let the skeleton stumble past him, MacKensie pounced on it, sinking her dagger into skull before running past the swordsman and firing a barrage of bolts to somewhat clear the path.\n\n\"Be careful James!\" she shouted down to the man as he taunted the Armoured Ogre.\n\nWhen Zell jumped off the wall, MacKensie almost went with him, pulling herself back the edge. More skeletons closed in. She jumped backwards to avoid an overhand strike, reloaded in a flash and fired close range into the back of the skeleton's skull. A townguard rushed in to reinforce her and together they quickly took down three more skeletons. Pressure on the wall appeared to be easing off.", "username": "Zool", "char_name": null }, { "text": "Arthur didn't have time to admire his newfound strength as he could feel it start to fade rapidly. He quickly doged out of the way of the first swing, then dived out of the way for the next causing it to take out three skeletons who Arthur hadn't seen approaching from behind. He watched as the oger continued it's assulte without a care as to if it hit it's allies. 'Well a bit of a hot head huh. Let's see if I can use that.' He dived out of the way of yet another strike that could probably of pasted him and rolled to his feet. \"And here I couldn't think you could get worse!\" He yelled at the rampaging oger as he barely ducked under another swing. \"Not only are you stupid and ugly but you couldn't hit a target if it was standing still.\" He taunted the beast as he tried to move towards the thickest batches of skeletons. \n \n With every strike he doged the big guy took out more of his own side but Arthur couldn't get in close enough to strike him with how wildly the oger was swinging. \"Lets hope my aim holds up.\" He mummbled to himself as he jumped out of the way of a swing he knew would've flatten him. He pulled out a harpoon a launched it towards the ogers gut, unfortunately this led to him not quite dodging the coming blow. He was lucky enough to move away enough for it to only be a glancing blow. That was still enough to send him a few feet, and through a few skeletons, before he skidded to a stop. As he slowly tried to stand he thought. 'I wonder how the others are doing.'", "username": "Goblinguy", "char_name": null } ]

[ { "text": "\"I know, honey,\" Fenna soothed the girl. \"We will go to her as soon as we can.\" When she noticed the skeleton climing the tree she pulled her dagger and tensed the muscles in her leg to give a good kick, when suddenly a falcon swooped in and attacked the skeleton. She locked eyes with the falcon feeling a sense of familiarity as the moment seemed to last an eternity. As the falcon flew away, Fenna turned her attention back to the child. \"It's okay, we'll go down once it's safe.\"\n\nShe pulled the child closer when the purple beams emitted from, whatever it was. Selica asked with a high-pitched voice what that was and Fenna couldn't explain it. Much to her delight, it seemed to frighten the skeletons.\n\"I don't know what it was, but it's getting rid of the monsters. Can you climb?\" When the child nodded, Fenna put her foot on a lower branch. \"I'll climb down first, you'll follow me.\"\n\nSelica gasped and pointed, Fenna turned her head just in time to see another sarcophagus fall. \"That's okay honey, there are no monsters in those.\" It looked like the one she and the others had arrived in, she was fairly confident she wasn't lying to the child.\n\nOnce they stood on the soil once more, it was evident the skeletons didn't pay any attention to them. \"I'll take her to her mother,\" she told the two that were with her and she grabbed Selica's hand. \"Quick, we can catch up with your mother.\"\nThe child ran as fast as she could and Fenna made sure to match her speed. When they reached the gate, only two people were still in the village: Segreant Harold and Selica's mother. \n\nAs soon as the girl laid eyes on her mother she let go and ran towards her. \n\"Thank you,\" the mother said as she picked up the girl. \"I don't know how to repay you.\"\n\"Just leave,\" Fenna urged. \"It's not over yet.\"\nShe turned around and headed back into the village to see where she could be of assistance.", "username": "Calle", "char_name": null }, { "text": "Arthur struggled to his feet and leaning heavily on his anchor as he did. He shook his head as the rushing of water and the smell of salt came once again, only this time there was also a burning sensation across his back that came with it. \"That fuking sucked.\" He watched as the oger clumsily charged towards him, it's guts tailing behind. \"Well looks like I gave as good as I got. Lets finish this.\" He said as he gripped his weapon with both hands and sprung forward. He meet the oger's charge with one of his own a primal roar broke from him as his face split into a feral grin. \n\n Arthur had been in a few fights back home and he couldn't lie, there was a certain rush that came with it, something savage, primal, and wild, but this was different. It was as if every cell in his body was buzzing with excitement and he felt more alive now running head first into the waiting jaws of a creature much larger than himself. It was with this feeling that he surged towards the oger with reackless abandon and simple planned to hit it before it could hit him. Unnoticed by him the symbols carved into his anchor started to glow softly blue and frost grew rapidly and covered his weapon and even creeping on to his hands and partially up his forarms. As he got within range he swung aiming for the gapping wound in it's gut.", "username": "Goblinguy", "char_name": null } ]

[ { "text": "\"Adam, no!\"\n\nAs Adam heard that, a part of him wasn't surprised that MacKensie was the first person to react to him being struck like that. He didn't really any of these people, but so far she seemed like the nicest one there, and the man admired her aim with those arrows at that particular moment. \"Thank you,\" he said with a smile, appreciative despite his current pain. Maybe after the battle he could talk to her more and- not now, focus, Adam…\n\nThe townsguards were giving it their all, helping to strike and remove the ogre's armor, and the vines seemed to be serving their intended purpose. The final attack from who Adam guessed was the guy in the newest coffin to arrive was an impressive way to end the fight. It was a violent battle, especially towards the end, but the man was happy it was all over.\n\nThe nature magic user wanted to talk to the others who arrived here like he did to be sure they were alright, but Vadim seemed to have other plans.\n\n\"You… Druid... come here.\"\n\nAdam had heard him fine, but didn't know that he meant him until a guardsman had directed him to do so more loudly. A \"Druid\" - is that what he was now in this new world? Something to think about later, the man supposed. At least the \"commander\" was okay enough.\n\n\"That thing you picked up... the heart of the Skeleton Leader...\" he wasn't even sure what it was. \"The purple light that came from it... caused... the other skeletons to flee…\"\n\nA heart? It's made of metal, but then again I can't really make assumptions about a place I've been in for maybe an hour. Adam just barely resisted the urge to roll his eyes at the last sentence. I was there, yes. An understatement, considering his role in getting the object, but it wasn't like anyone could read his mind to point it out to him.\n\nThe stuff about a war, a Witch Queen and something called a \"Quinity\" was definitely new information though. This \"commander\" did not impress Adam in the slightest, but at least now he seemed to be serious instead of threatening random people for no reason, so that made the nature manipulator believe him. An honest fool was still honest, he supposed. And the stuff about the undead and destroying the world? That made Adam think about his brother and the fantasy games he'd like to play. His brother that, for all he knew, he'd never see again. A miserable thought, just like the one of countless families in this world losing who they cared about because of this Witch Queen.\n\nAnd that was why when the \"commander\" offered 1,000 silver pieces to get the cube to Valheim, the Druid knew his answer already. \n\n\"I can't speak for everyone else, but I'll do it. There's too much at stake to do anything else. But I want to be sure everyone's okay first.\" Saying this, Adam glanced at his fellow crystal bearers. A few looked like they could perhaps need some rest, so leaving now might not be realistic, even if they all agreed to this mission. Again though, the man wouldn't speak for anyone else. \"And we'll need supplies. A map, compass, food, water, that sort of thing so we don't get lost or die.\" Adam had a feeling this wouldn't be as simple as getting in the car and driving to the grocery store, so he wanted to be prepared. A two day's hike right after a huge battle (one that he could still feel the pain from) was not something to be taken lightly.", "username": "Zapdos", "char_name": null }, { "text": "Fenna had joined the fallen commander, but it looked like the fighting was over. She stayed silent when he called over the druid and listened to his words, even though they weren't directed at her. The skeleton's heart? Was that what had emitted the purple beams?\n\nShe frowned as the commander explained about the war. She had to agree with him, stone coffins indeed didn't simply fall from the sky in normal situations and how they had gotten here was a mystery to her as well. \n\nAn army of the undead was unlikely to be the good guys, especially since they attacked a village like this. They would have killed that girl if they hadn't intervened. Fenna cast her eyes to the ground as she thought about it. War was something she only read about or saw on the news, never had she experienced fear or death as closely as now. And having to see your fallen comrades be resurrected and fight against you, that had to be awful. Fenna wasn't sure how she felt about being destined to do something in this strange world, it all sounded very important and there wasn't much reason to believe she could make a difference, but these villagers seemed even less capable of doing so. \n\nShe nodded to Adam when he said he'd do it. \"I'm in,\" she said. \"I understand there is haste, but I agree that if we're going to travel for two days on foot we'll need to have some supplies with us, food and water at the very least. And a small rest for the injured.\" She glanced at the satchel the guard carried, 1000 silver? They'd have to split that, the satchel seemed rather heavy and would definitely hinder if they were going off-road.", "username": "Calle", "char_name": null }, { "text": "Clive dusted the bone powder from his overalls, clapped his hands together as he stood by Fenna. After they'd helped the young lass he had kept a tight lip, something about knocking those glorified halloween decorations was irking him something fierce; like how he'd dusted them with his bare knuckles and they didn't even hurt.\n\n\"No good man can accept money from a man in yer' condition there capt'n.\" when offered a sum of coin the cowpoke declined, he was just helping cause he felt it was what any decent man would do.\n\n\"Give my share back to whatever the people here need, they seem like decent folk. Like the people back where I'm from, they need this more than me.\" Clive wasn't selfish but also he didn't know what in the heck kinda money these people used but it definitely weren't paper like they used back home.\n\nClive didn't know what or where he was so when the idea of figuring out what all this nonsense was definitely made sense to him. But he wasn't no hero, he was just a farmer. Everyone else had some weird sorta fantasy stuff going on for them but Clive? He just seemed to not break his knuckles beating up skeletons which was odd but he was gonna just be ignorant to that for now.", "username": "Dark Cloud", "char_name": null } ]

[ { "text": "\"Good to see you're not dead, now where the fuck is my sword?\"\n\n\"Yeah dude same\"\n\nHe was sure he wasn't meant to hear the second part but Zell hadn't walked far away enough for him to miss it, drawing a snort from him before looking back where the head honcho was now talking with Adam and MacKenzie plus the other two people who went to help with the evacuation.\n\nPerhaps it was the post-battle exhaustion or maybe the feeling of the blessing of Undaya fading but for some reason James didn't feel like saying anything while the rest of the weirdos with crystals on their hands (Fellow abductees?) interacted with the downed Chief cop, instead what came to his mind was the soreness, the hit he took earlier and the strain of dragging Zell's unconscious body was being registered by his mind now that the adrenaline was subsiding.\n\nRolling his shoulder a few times to get ease his muscles he refocused on the ongoing conversation.\n\n\"1000 silver pieces... It's all yours... just please... take that cube - that thing - to the city of Valhiem. North of here... two days travel if you head off the road and into the wild. I trust in your ability to defend it, should the Witch Queen's forces give chase. But you must be swift. You must leave now. There is no time to spare. Our mages and scientists must see that cube. It must reach Capitol City.\"\n\nThat... was a lot to take in, Witch Queen? Valheim? Capitol city? as the others gave their opinions and agreements his mind furiously processed the information, there was likely an open conflict between two(?) factions(?) and the leader of an army of monsters was a woman(?) referred to as the Witch Queen, did they inadvertently choose a side the moment they chose to help defend the town? if so were they in the wrong by doing so? the army seemed pretty evil but then again from a logistic standpoint, it seemed reasonable to send an expendable force to destroy/capture a settlement in order to deny the enemy resources, that and this place seemed medieval so no geneva convention against war crimes, still those were half-assed speculations without taking into account what was likely a more nuanced situation.\n\nHe needed more information \n\n\"Oi, do you mind telling me what the hell is going on? Who was commanding those monsters? And why were they attacking you guys?\"\n\n \"Well that is convenient\" \n\nJames watched as the Asian-looking man approached the guard boss, damn the guy was intimidating (A small part of him told him to take notes) and he could see how the guards tensed even so slightly in his presence. He thought that the guy was asking him and the others but he wasn't sure if he was just asking anyone in general, still, this was something he could use. Crouching to be at eye level with the big enchilada he was tempted to give a smile but knowing himself it would come off as a grimace so he settled on his least angry scowl.\n\n\"Hey, my name is James and I am with Sicko Sword over there, I would like to help but the last thing I recall I was\" dead \"doing something else and then suddenly I found myself in a stone coffin in a very different place, so I would love if you could offer an explanation for what the fuck is going on\"\n\nHis breath was slightly heavy by the end but he didn't allow his temperament to lash just yet, he really wanted some answers preferably before the next bullshit situation happened.", "username": "Teyao", "char_name": null }, { "text": "Zell was content to keep his mouth shut when the new arrival started an interrogation of his own. And why wouldn't he? This man was huge. And not just tall like Arthur... Jesus, he was jacked! Dude looked like a bodybuilder who ate steroids for breakfast. Even the guards knew to shut the hell up. James, however, wasn't afraid to press the police chief with questions of his own. Whatever answers were provided to the Asian man, Zell would speak up in reply to James. This was because when James was talking, he kinda wavered mid-sentence, which made Zell have a sudden and rare apipheny.\n\n\"You were 'doing something else' huh?\" he echoed James own words back to him. \"Doing something dangerous maybe? Had an accident? Got yourself killed?\"\n\nThe swordsman remembered the first words of MacKensie. At the time, he didn't know he'd died himself, but now - with that in mind - MacKensie wavered mid-sentence the exact same way James did.\n\n\"You know what I'm talking about, right?\" he directed to the French woman. \"That plane you said you were on... was that cap... or was there some kind of accident you left out.\" It was all just a hunch, but Zell went all in. \"Me? I got hit by a bus. Very. Very. Painful. I died and woke up here. I'm willing to bet we all did.\"\n\nIt sounded pretty ridiculous. He hadn't taken the time to think it through. He said it anyway. Classic Marsel Brooks.\n\n\"How about you two?\" he said, looking left and right at the American and European who he still had his arms around. \"What happened? Didn't get your names, bee-tee-double-you. I'm Zell. Nice to meet ya.\"\n\nA one-sided grin appeared on his face. Classic Marsel Brooks.", "username": "Saiyan", "char_name": null }, { "text": "Fenna pushed Zell's arm off her shoulder. \"Fenna,\" she answered the question. \"And I don't remember dying,\" she added.\nWas it true? Was she really dead, or was there a magic involved that had pulled her from earth and dropped her into this realm? At this moment she asumed the latter as there was definitely magic here, but there wasn't any evidence for either option. It stung knowing how far away she was from her husband and children, but tried not to let it get to her. Surely if they had gotten here there had to be a way back too, right? Hadn't the commander mentioned mages and scientists? \n\n\"Maybe we can find the answer we are looking for in Valhiem,\" she said as she crossed her arms and she looked from one to the other. \"We will drop that thing off, and ask the mages and scientists have any idea how we got here, as none of us seems to know how that happened. If there is an answer to our question, it has to be there.\"\n\nA townsguard approached her holding a metre-long spear with something claw-like at the end and waited until she was done speaking. \"Excuse me, ma'am,\" he said politely. \"I was doing a round in the village to see if any enemies were left behind and I found this in the, ehhh, stone box you emerged from.\"\nFenna took it from him, she must have missed it before, with the shadows at the bottom and everything that was happening. Her fingers folded around the wooden shaft and she nodded a thanks to the man.", "username": "Calle", "char_name": null }, { "text": "As Adam heard the farmer and the woman he had stood next to earlier agree to the mission, he felt like he was doing the right thing here. Delivering this cube so its use could be discovered had the potential to help more than just a single town being attacked by skeletons. They would need to get to Valheim to do this though, and that meant having good intelligence on the general area.\n\nThankfully, one of the guardsmen provided Adam with a map that seemed to answer the nature manipulator's questions. It seemed that going off road to the north and through some light trees and hills would be the best way to get there. The document didn't seem to indicate it was a particularly dangerous route either, though in a world of skeleton warriors and ogres it was good to be prepared for that anyway. And speaking of being prepared…\n\n\"Excuse me sir, does the sun rise in the east and set in the west?\" \n\nThe nearby guardsman looked baffled at Adam's question, like he was asking a ridiculously stupid question. Nonetheless, he gave a simple \"yes\" position response before rolling his eyes and walking away.\n\nThe Druid didn't really care what that guy thought though; this was a new world and he couldn't assume things worked the same way here that they did on Earth. Using the position of the sun, the compass and the map would allow this impromptu team to get to the capitol instead of getting lost in the trees.\n\nAnd with a few words and a nod in Adam's direction, MacKensie declared her intent to help as well. Adam smiled and nodded back to her in response, happy to have her in the group. This would work out. Everyone had been able to fight together against a common enemy before, so why should this mission be any different?\n\nThe new guy and James did ask relevant questions that could present new challenges to overcome, but it was Zell who delivered a metaphorical punch to Adam's gut. Asking if they all died, and then grinning about it? Adam loved his family, and he was sure the others had people back on Earth they cared about also. This callousness visibly disgusted the man and made him wonder if perhaps they were in over their heads, too different to cooperate effectively? After all, many of them (himself included) had fought by themselves in their previous battle. What if there was a stronger enemy ahead of them and they couldn't work together? The result wouldn't be good.\n\nAnd of course, the reminder that he had lost his family was front and center. His father, mother, and brother were people he'd never see again. How were they feeling now? He'd never gotten to say goodbye and told them how much they meant to him. At that moment, the mental exhaustion from the loss and the physical exhaustion from getting struck by an ogre were plainly visible to anyone looking at the Druid, and Adam felt like he would collapse under the strain. \n\nBut Fenna had inadvertently provided a path for the man. \"Maybe we can find the answer we are looking for in Valhiem. We will drop that thing off, and ask the mages and scientists have any idea how we got here, as none of us seems to know how that happened. If there is an answer to our question, it has to be there.\"\n\nShe was right, and he was grateful to her for that. There was a path forward, one that maybe meant being able to be reunited with the ones he cared about. And if not, Adam was probably still helping innocent people with this quest, and that was something he knew would make his family proud. Yes, he would need to find time to mourn the ones he lost, but the right thing to do now was to focus on this mission. The man took a deep breath, did his best to regain his composure, and renewed his focus on the task before him. The path forward might be difficult, but Adam vowed to do his best to get to the end of it.", "username": "Zapdos", "char_name": null } ]

[ { "text": "Of the 42 townsguard, 9 had died and a further 13 were injured. The flow of battle had been extremely fortunate, all things considered. Arthur had lured the Beserker Ogre into single combat. James had drawn the Armoured Ogre away from the centre of the field. This greatly improved the regular soldier's ability to employ defense-heavy shield tactics which were super effective against the skeletons.\n\nThe only asset of the skeletons was their strength in numbers, but Zell and MacKensie's support of the handful of soldiers on the wall made all the difference in the resistance to not be overwhelmed on the wall. Adam's quick idenitifation and subsequent dispatch of the Skeleton Leader rendered The Undead's part in the battle a relatively brief affair.\n\nThe evacuation was quick and smooth, in part due to Fenna and Clive bolstering the prefects and escorts. Even young Selica, the citizen whose life was all but gifted to the raiding party, would live to see another day, thanks to their quick response of the threat.\n\nWhat could well have been a violent and messy grind down to the very last man was anything but. The adventurers had saved many lives with their actions this day.\n\nA nearby building had been turned into a temporary infirmary for the injured. Some guards helped treat their friends, but the majority were taking out and helping bury their dead. Commander Vadim refused to be taken to the infirmary and commanded proceedings from the eastern gate where he'd been since the end of the battle. He was feeling better by the minute and had ordered a guard to fetch him some crutches.\n\nThe guards would spend much of the rest of the day here in town, before gathering their horses and mules, and packing on as much of the town's goods as they could before taking themselves to Bridgeton.\n\n\n\nPeter and Paul explained what they could about the various classes, including information about how adventurers were known to operate, and even told Zell some of the names of famous ones from history and legends who were alive today. It was clear by how Paul talked that he was something of a fan. It seemed they could talk all day about such things, but a senior officer came over and shouted at them for taking so long with their duties. They left Zell alone rather quickly.\n\n\n\nVadim nodded cordially at James, his hard face softening as he looked at the man who'd saved his life. Just then, his crutches were delivered and he was helped up by a guard halfway before the Commander gestured to leave him be. \"I can stand up on my own power, Fredrick, for The Quinity's sake.\"\n\nOnce up and eye level with the Cleric, he nodded again and looked pointedly at the rucksacks, bedrolls and haversacks of supplies that had been set for the adventurers. \"Take whatever you need. If you have any other requests, I will see what I can do. As for your healing ability...\" Vadim looked at Fredrick. \"Take uh...\" He hoped James would fill in the blank here as he didn't know the Cleric's name. Whether he did or not, \"Take him to the infirmary and show him to our injured.\"\n\nHalf of the 13 men injured were good enough to walk around and help out. What James would find in the infirmary were 6 men in varying degrees of bad condition:\n\n2 of them were being treated for broken bones. One had had his own shield crushed into his own body, right at the beginning of battle, making his fractures significantly worser than the other man.\n\n2 were being treated for grievious lacerations after near-death encounters with the Armoured Ogre's giant machete. One of whom was difficult to treat as his helmet was etched into his face where the slash had gone through metal and flesh. He was in agony.\n\nThe last 2 were victims of stab wounds. One of them was falling into fever from a single critical wound to the gut. The other had been stabbed multiple times in the arms and chest.\n\nWith only two healing spells left for the day, and the rest of the day to get through travelling in the unknown wilderness, James had tough choices to make.", "username": "xenon", "char_name": "Fenna's Falcon" }, { "text": "@Crusader Lord @Zapdos\n\nJoji Yamazaki\n\nJoji was glad that the girl seemed relatively okay. Although she seemed obviously a little shaken. He took the flask of water from Lillianna, feeling bad to have given her another flask that she didn't need. Putting it away by holding it in his other hand. He really needed a backpack or something to carry all of his things. His attention turned towards the Mexican man. \"Thanks.\" He said in a curt and short manner. He needed to buy some supplies so he did not feel like a baby in the wild. \"I assume this Valhiem place is pretty close. \" He shrugged his large shoulders. Walking over towards the eastern gate to grab as much supplies he could carry in his backpack. \n\nLooking over at the two Americans he felt he would need to tread carefully. From what he had seen or heard they could be very short tempted and hot headed. So whatever he said or did could make them blow up. But he was used to dealing with hotheads But he didn't want to turn these people hostile by pissing them off.", "username": "Eviledd1984", "char_name": null }, { "text": "The moment he stepped inside the little infirmary the Guard (Frederick right?) inside informed the young man that had been attending to the injured who he was and why he was there before departing, the youngster in question appeared to be some kind of apprentice herbalist, thankfully he had decided to remain at the edge of the evacuation and was able to be reached in time to come help with the injured, but sadly the only one they had managed to find was him and from what he was told when Frederick guided him to the infirmary his specialty was common remedies and ways to treat little injuries so he had less expertise than necessary to handle the situation.\n\nThe nervous apprentice didn't bother with introductions and went straight to the throat of the situation, 8 injured men, 2 with broken bones, 2 with lacerations, one of which being problematic to treat, and 2 were stab wounds with one being half dead with a fever. And they were letting him have the honor of choosing who to use his magic on, him the person with no medical training whatsoever and weird witchcraft. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, then he pushed the fear and nerves that were creeping up down the stairs while flipping them off, panicking would help no one and after that goddamn ogre almost cleaving him in twine he was too emotionally drained to feel any strong emotion right now so he was able to think things logically.\n\nFirst, the men with broken bones were out, yeah they were suffering and would probably never be quite right again unless they received the proper treatment, but they would survive which was more than he could say about the others, the one with the lesser laceration was out too, he had already been treated and from what the apprentice had said he was expected to make a recovery with a scar to accompany it.\n\nSo that left three candidates and two uses of the spell.\n\nAnother deep breath and he made his choice, wasting no time he went towards the patients from the stabbing, they were in the most danger as there was no way to properly gauge wheter they could make a recovery or not, the one with the fever was likely to die soon with the way he appeared to be delirious and the one with multiple stabs had lost too much blood, it was a miracle that he wasn't dead already. A tense seconds later his hands spelled the same supernatural light from earlier on both soldiers and a (non-magical) prayer escaped his lips.\n\nThen he rushed to the entrance to the infirmary and identified his targets, just because he didn't have another use of his magical healing didn't mean that he couldn't help in other more mundane ways. Or that he was the only one who could.\n\n\"MacKensie! Arthur!\" What was his.. \"Clive! I need your guy's help in the infirmary quick!\" \n\nSaying that he ignored the look the apprentice was giving him and prepared the tools he would need, a pair of tweezers, disinfectant for the hands, a surgical scalpel, and a surgical needle. Once he was sure everything was ready he looked back to see who had entered had entered, then he started giving orders again.\n\n\"Apprentice, grab these\" He passed him the tweezers \"Mac you get these\" The scalpel and the needle \"Now you all need to disinfect your hands up to the elbows\" He proceeded to do just that to his own and passing the desinfectant to the others before moving towards the still groaning man with the encrusted helmet.\n\n\"Okay okay\" A breath \"Arthur, you and Clive need to hold him down, we need to get his helmet off to treat him but we can't administrate anesthesia because of his head injury so he will trash around, we can't have that\" Then he turned to MacKenzie \"Mac you said that you were an Olympic trained archer and I noticed that you managed to get shots that were really far away and your hands didn't shook once so I will need you to cut and separate the parts of his helmet that are making it impossible to get off, Apprentice here\" He signaled to the pale youngster \"Will hold the helmet with his tweezers so you can cut away and I will make sure that he doesn't move his head\" \n\nHe moved into position and waited for everyone else to follow, then when he was sure they were ready he directed his attention to the Frenchwoman once more and gave her a nod.\n\n\"When you are ready\" \n\nWithout bothering to pull his tough persona again he started to whisper to the agonizing man encouraging words, every little thing could help.", "username": "Teyao", "char_name": null }, { "text": "Arthur had been called into the infirmary alomg side MacKensie and clive by a worried sounding James, he could guess what this was about. It turned out he was right when he entered and saw the injured guardsmen. Jame's was quick to let them know the game plan, it seemed they needed to hold down a guy whos face and helm had gotten a bit too friendly. He quickly used a nearby water basin to wash his hands and forarms before approaching the moaning man. \"I think I can hold him still but if we're doing this raw it's going to be painful and we don't want him biting through his own tounge.\" He said as he looked around for something for the injured man to bite into. Not finding anything in the tent he pulled the knife from his hip and put the leather bound handle into the guards mouth and said in a serious but calm tone. \"This is gonna hurt like hell so bite this as hard as you can.\" He the tried to firmly grasp the mans shoulders to keep him as still as he could.", "username": "Goblinguy", "char_name": null } ]

[ { "text": "Lillianna Steiner\n\n\n\nThe mage gingerly leaned her staff against herself as she stood there and used both hands to carefully take and hold the cube.\n\nIf there was one thing that made it easier talking to Adam in a rather silly sense, it was that he seemed to not be as giant as many of the other men in the party. Less craning her neck up simply to speak without looking rude, or something of the sort. But that was frankly a small detail at best, as he seemed to be confident enough when it came to going about in the wilderness like this (even if they had been traveling the roads of course). This despite his apparently younger age in her eyes, though his own eyes for that matter were a most peculiar color indeed. Hmm. But if she analyzed everyone too much, then it felt likely they'd all stand out like that. Peculiar people, in a peculiar place, in a world where they'd landed out of the blue in falling stone sarcophagi coming from a giant opening the sky. \n\n...She was sure there was a joke somewhere about any combination of them 'walking into a bar', etc, etc, but for the time being decided against pondering such a thing in favor of what was in front of her: The cube. \n\nOrnate designs covered the outside, symbols and sigils she assumed were magically inclined in nature, and from the firsthand accounts it had emitted a purple light. The result of all of this was the other skeletons running for their lives. Usually the loss of a leader would cause a drop in morale, if the undead had any really, but even then such a thing still stood out as odd to her. Why flee if this was lost? Was it a valuable crucible for creating powerful undead? Was it a device helping control the force, and its loss caused the lesser undead to flee? Was it a catalyst for whatever magic had created or was controlling the undead and monstrous forces? A beacon for the Witch Queen's magic to emerge from? \n\nIt was all a vast mystery with myriad guesses to be had, but Lillianna for the time being settled with doing some careful observation and testing on her part. For all she knew this thing would bind to her and she became part-necromancer or something, or someone would need to attune to it to make it work for them in some capacity.\n\nAnd then came Adam's own question, snapping her head back up before she got too deeply focused on the cube she was now carefully turning over and running her fingers over the whole surface of in her hands. She even tried to draw upon it, or at least see if it reacted to her in particular somehow, in the meantime. \n\n \n\nAh! That was another good question, and generally speaking was perhaps pertinent in her studying of the cube. Or rather it would be pertinent when she started a more magical means of looking (among others). \n\n\"Well, it feels as if some of the knowledge was shoehorned into my mind, so I can certainly tell you types I can use at least. Spirit Magic and Lightning Magic. As for the 'elements' involved in those schools of magic, as worlds like this seem to be inclined to classify things under this sort of manner in various forms of fantasy fiction back on Earth, so I can't actually say.\"\n\nThe 22 year old let out a small sigh before looking back at the younger man, her eyes running over his attire and so forth that was visible from her perspective.\n\n\"You seem dressed for the woods, but lack a visible weapon skill like swords or bows as I've noticed in the case of the others. Are you a pure magic user, perchance?\"\n\nWorst case scenario she would be wrong and get told something else, at least in her mind.", "username": "Crusader Lord", "char_name": null }, { "text": "@xenon @Zapdos\n\nJoji Yamazaki\n\nThe tall man nodded his head when Adam answered his question, \"Doesn't seem too bad. We shouldn't dilly dally for too long then if we wanna get there quickly.\" He assumed they all felt the same urgency to get to Valheim as he did. He was a little curious about the cube, so he would probably watch as the others inspect it. Joji would not be surprised if something bad came out of that object. He had seen a lot of horror movies involving a cube, and a shit ton of hooks attached to chains. Joji kept his eyes on their surroundings, placing his hand on the handle of his sword. \n\nThe large man once again was skeptical that they would not be able to find any information on why they were here. There seemed to be an awkward silence which made the large man feel quite anxious. He turned towards Zell, \"Why do you think that cube is so important? Do you think there's something very powerful inside? Or maybe the cube itself is some sort of uber powerful item?\" Joji was not sure what was going on with that particular cube. But it seemed to be important somehow. \n\n\"But I'm wondering if we're gonna have to ask around for information. Or if whoever we're giving this cube to would know what's going on.\" The large man thought that would be the case. But things could be more complicated than they seemed.", "username": "Eviledd1984", "char_name": null }, { "text": "\"Good call, I can't speak for everyone but with the kind of luck I've had today....well I'm surprised nothing has tried anything yet.\"\n\nAdam was mildly surprised to hear someone besides Lillianna, partially because she was the one he was talking to, and partially because Arthur hadn't said much of anything to him so far. The Druid wasn't complaining though; he was glad someone as formidable as the large man had the awareness to anticipate danger. Adam thought he heard Arthur say something else, but it was quieter than before, so the Druid assumed it wasn't meant for him. Instead, the man responded to the first part of Arthur's statement. \n\n\"True, I think most of us have had a good amount of danger today. I think we'll be okay if we work together.\" Adam had doubts about his own capabilities, but he felt that everyone here had something they could contribute to the cause. MacKensie's archery, Arthur's strength, and James's magic-\n\n\"Hey Adam! Do you remember the whole buff thing? I got to spend an hour inside a body of water before I can use it again so could we make camp beside a stream or a river? You seem to know a thing or two about camping and I don't want to die to a snake or something\"\n\nOh, speak of the devil Adam thought with a slight smile. Was James referring to common snakes from Earth or to something more magical located here? The former wasn't an issue at all; the latter was probably beyond the range of his plant magic unless he could slam a tree on it to kill it. The water thing definitely was a magical thing though, based on what James said, and Adam was happy to provide a non-magical solution for his teammate.\n\n\"I remember it more than you know; I'd be glad to help,\" Adam replied, making sure he was loud enough for the healer to hear, \"I'll do my best to find a good spot for us.\" Now it was time to focus on the map and keep his word. Considering they had maybe two or three more hours of travel left at the most, it would have to be somewhere nearby…\n\nOh, this could work! Yes, the Druid located a suitable location on the map. It was a small hill, higher than the surrounding land so they would have visibility and a terrain advantage if they were attacked. There was also a stream that wrapped around half of the hill so that James could get in the water like he had asked. Trees were around the hill as well, providing a way for Adam to help the team in case something happened. The Druid smiled, happy he could help the man who might have saved his life. Adam was about to let James know this when Lillianna replied to him.\n\n\"Well, it feels as if some of the knowledge was shoehorned into my mind, so I can certainly tell you types I can use at least. Spirit Magic and Lightning Magic. As for the 'elements' involved in those schools of magic, as worlds like this seem to be inclined to classify things under this sort of manner in various forms of fantasy fiction back on Earth, so I can't actually say.\n\nYou seem dressed for the woods, but lack a visible weapon skill like swords or bows as I've noticed in the case of the others. Are you a pure magic user, perchance?\"\n\nInteresting. Lightning Magic was pretty self-explanatory, but what was Spirit Magic? Could she control people's spirits somehow? Those were questions for later. Right now, Adam would answer Lillianna's question.\n\n\"I think so, yes. Everything I have is stuff I'd have used before I, uh, arrived here. The fishing pole, a knife, these clothes…well, all of it except this.\" Saying that, the Druid took out the orb with the rainbow-colored leaf and showed it to his fellow mage. \"I have no clue what this does. I think it's important, but that's all I know.\" He was putting the item away when he heard Jojo's response to his earlier answer. It was good that this guy seemed to be reasonable, and Adam agreed with the sentiment of what he was saying, replying with \"of course, though we can't just rush there either. We're already on the fastest route there, so we're doing as well as we can. I'll do my best to guide us all to Valheim.\" He meant it; MacKensie, Lillianna, James, everyone - they'd all make it to the city alive.", "username": "Zapdos", "char_name": null } ]

[ { "text": "@Zapdos@Dark Cloud\n\nJoji Yamazaki\n\nJoji felt quite embarrassed that his suggestion was being disregarded. Mainly from the druid whose name he had forgotten he had gotten an enormous fish. And there would be no need for building a shelter. \"Shit.\" He thought to himself now sitting down beside Zell and the others. He was grateful that there was food for him to eat. 'Thank you.\" He addressed his gratitude towards the druid. He unpacked his things onto the ground and started looking for something in his pack. Pulling out some tobacco, and rolling papers. Something he had bartered with a soldier for some gold pieces. \n\nHe was rolling the tobacco onto the paper into a stubby looking cigarette. Lighting the hand rolled cigarette by placing the tip inside the fire. Striking it against the sole of his shoe. Taking a deep drag with a sense of euphoria on his face. Thinking that cigarette was the best thing he'd ever had in his entire life. \"Do you need help cutting that fish into sizeable pieces?\" He asked the druid. Tapping his hand on the hilt of his sword. Wanting to be some use to the group. Joji took a moment to relax a little, he was sure the others were glad to just chill out around a fire. The large man took another drag from his homemade cigarette. \"Well, hopefully our luck starts getting better.\" Joji Took one more drag of his cigarette, tapping it so the ash fell onto the ground beside him.", "username": "Eviledd1984", "char_name": null }, { "text": "Lillianna Steiner\n\nWell, for once in her life it was struggle to keep occupied, at least to a certain extent. Without the benefit of the books and internet pages to read at home, or even a good anime to watch for that matter, the cold reality of her situation began to settle in somewhat more than she'd bargained for. Not that she bargained to get here in the first place! The world could be cold and harsh, and with the sun beginning to dip it wasn't exactly like they had much room to debate when it came to setting up for the night. Ugh. What made it worse was the sensation that early sunset breeze seemed to bring on in her own mind...just another reminder of the home she'd lost. \n\n...No. She had to keep busy for now. Survival was first and foremost....it had to be. \n\nMeanwhile the rest of their 'merry band' had begun doing things of their own accord. Albeit one of them had gained a falcon, a beautiful falcon to be sure, but the use of it would remain to be seen for the most part. Birds of prey could lift only so much weight, after all, and that meant only so many small game animals at most could be brought back before it eventually tired. Adam also seemed to get a fire going before heading out in a direction of his own, whilst Zell was calling out to the man who had saved her (James was his name, eh?) to move a tree trunk into the camp near the fire. MacKensie seemed to quip at the duo before walking off to her own devices as well. She hadn't seen what the rest would be up to, and frankly had no idea of anyone was heading out for some alone time, but if they did nothing then this 'camp' would be nothing but huddling close to a fire with nothing else! She had to at least do something here if she was to survive the night, right?\n\nNot much she could do in terms of magic or other skills in terms of their usefulness in the heat of the moment, unless they wanted a larger fire or no fire at all from one of her lightning bolts, so Lillianna would resign herself to a seemingly small task. Leaving her staff at the impromptu camp, propped up on the non-fire side of tree trunk (if Zell and/or James brought it over in the end) and began to scour the space around the camp for wood. Her intent was to gather up as many sticks and branches as she could manage, make somewhat sorted piles of them based on size back at camp for using on the fire. Nothing too big or insane, but sticks and branches big enough to keep the fire she figured. Maybe a few small log chunks too if she could manage to drag or carry them over as well. \n\n\n\n---\n\n\n\nOnce she would eventually get a reasonable amount of sticks and branches stacked up near, but not too close to, the fire, then came the other matter: Shelter. Well, her shelter at least. She would be going out to get wood, this time at least, from the farther away woods just down the hill (going in the same general-ish direction MacKensie had gone, and getting everything she needed for the rest of her supplies before moving on in her plans, but not getting close enough to notice her) to get these supplies. Sticks, branches, and more leafy branches not attached to any sort of vines. Even smaller stones from the stony/tree-cluster hilltop they were on to boot, or at least what ones she could carry. She didn't even want to risk touching foreign world vines or bushes, though, just in case anything was odd or they tried to eat her or such. \n\nAfter this she would take a small rest, drinking some water and likewise chewing on the jerky from one of her three rations, before scouting out a potential location to set up. This would ultimately be a small cluster of larger standing rocks placed close enough to the fire Adam had set, within the midst of the mage would fit an amount of the sticks and branches together on the ground in the middle/midst of the rock cluster to make it a tight fit and keep her off of the ground. Then she'd try to layer a fair amount of the much thinner, leafy branches she'd gathered on top of this to make it soft-ish to sit or lie down on. (All of this to the best of her ability at least, she wasn't dumb but she wasn't wilderness trained either.) \n\nOnce this was done, another rest. More water. Little more jerky from the same single ration, which she was (pun not intended) rationing out for her work.\n\nThen she would begin work on the next 'part' of her plan. Longer branches would sit over the top of the rock in the cluster, with smaller sticks crossed over them in perpendicular, and then the leafy thinner branches placed over the top of these so as to make am impromptu 'roof' of sorts. Then she would try to carefully weight it down with some of the smaller stones, both around the edges and some in the middle, trying to not make it too heavy but also not wanting her shelter to 'blow away'. Then same using any remaining smaller stones she got and sticks/branches for making shelter to fill in the gaps of the 'walls' of her little shelter. At least so she left just one opening pointed at Adam's fire, and she could safely lie down under the shelter at least. \n\nAnything left after this? If there was any, she'd add any extra wood at this point (if any) to the wood piles she'd made for the fire, and use any small stones left (if any) to stick with the other stones around the edge of the fire. \n\nIf she got this far and did all of this somehow, the mage would find herself sitting on the floor of her new shelter exhausted and chugging most of (but not all of) the rest of her water in her water skin and chewing down the last fragments of jerky from the one ration she'd opened up. A weak pang of hunger would grumble against her, however, making her stomach rumble audibly for anyone standing decently close enough to her.", "username": "Crusader Lord", "char_name": null }, { "text": "\"And I think we're fine for food, a mighty fine catch there boy!\"\n\nAdam had not interacted with Clive much, so he didn't really know what to expect from him. Even so, the back slap wasn't something the Druid was anticipating, so he flinched slightly out of surprise. This only lasted a moment though, and the man smiled at the praise from him and Zell. Odd how only a few hours ago, the latter had the opposite effect on him by talking about death so casually. Now here he was, being helpful and nice. Maybe Zell was just odd in general. Best not to dwell on it now though.\n\n\"If you're happy now, just wait until it's ready to eat,\" Adam responded, his tone suggesting that it would be delicious. Upon briefly reflecting on it, he didn't think anyone had thanked him for navigating yet. Their minds were probably preoccupied, having been through a lot today, so the man didn't hold it against them. He just found it kinda funny how food could bring out the best in people at times. And as his father had told him, you did the right thing for its own sake, not so you could be praised.\n\nJoji then asked if he could help cut the fish. Adam was about to reply, but the new tobacco in the air had other ideas on how the Druid should respond, and he spent the next fifteen seconds coughing instead. As he finished, the man thought about the request. It was nice that this guy wanted to help, but Adam didn't think Joji had the outdoors experience that the Druid possessed, which guided his answer.\n\n\"Thank you, but I should prepare these myself. My father taught me how to get these fish ready without wasting much, so that'll help us stretch out the provisions we were given longer.\" The man glanced over at Lillianna, who seemed to have turned part of the campsite into a construction site, and pointed in her direction with his thumb. \"And I suspect she'll want some extra food after all her work, so we shouldn't waste anything.\" He said it lightly, but underneath that tone, there was concern. \"She knows we're only here for one night, so why put in all that effort? I'll have to try talking to her at some point.\" That point would have to be some time later though, as right now Adam still had to make fish for everyone, and he wanted to be done when they were all back by the fire.", "username": "Zapdos", "char_name": null }, { "text": "Interaction\nand @Crusader Lord\n\nOver the crackling of the open fire, one could make out the distant chirp of a cricket between the moments of silence between conversation, the smell of the burning logs mingling with the hint of tobacco hanging in the wind put the Texan at ease.\n\nThe earthy smell of the foreign mans cigarette made him cough into his arm slightly though not as much as their intrepid fisherman \"Hoo-wee, partner that's some strong stuff.\" he said half chuckling, half coughing, it smelled less artificial than what one would expect of modern cigarettes though that didn't make it any less potent \"Bring that fish over here partner, smoked fish ain't made in tobacco smoke.\"\n\nClive, for what probably was the first time since he got to wherever this place was he grabbed the brim of his hat and removed it to waft the potent fumes from his face. \n\nHe had a chiseled face for the most part, with freckles covering his nose and cheeks. His emerald green eyes twinkled in the firelight slightly, winking at Adam as he motioned the man to take a seat with him on the log upwind from the smoke. His hair was almost a red hue, russet locks slicked back in a sort of mullet though it fell on his face as he removed his hat.\n\n\"You get to gutting them fish,\" he flashed the Druid a smile then gazed in the direction of the new lady, he hadn't spoken with her much but she seemed quite the character, he shook his head and laughed finding it mighty humorous that the lady was going out of her way to build a veritable house when they were just staying here one night.\n\n\"Anyone wanna tell the little lady or should we just let that girl make us a fancy cottage?\" Clive snorted and nudged Adam slightly, something about his awkwardness struck him as needing a bit of cheering up anyway.", "username": "Dark Cloud", "char_name": null } ]

[ { "text": "Lillianna Steiner\n\nTo say the work had been draining was at least a generally correct fact. All the walking about and trying to get things ready had been draining indeed, but she at least wasn't completely exhausted in the physical sense. She wasn't made of paper, after all! Albeit she wasn't used to doing things like this all the time after a long walk from elsewhere....so, yeah, it was very draining in the end if she took that all into account. But really, what about any of this was familiar to any of them? \n\nThey'd been tossed into another world in stone sarcophagi, she would have to note returning to the village to see if she could study them more at some point in the future perhaps, and the others had fought a battle before she even arrived. Tardy to the party as she was. Dead, pulled from home, whatever the case was it was pulling a bunch of people far from home. And that wasn't just easy for everyone. Hell, she'd barely found a home in the past few years she felt she could call one in the first place. A place that she could call a home for her. None of the pressure or the chores or the getting yanked around to interviews with colleges and professors and talking to researchers and all of that mess. \n\n...It hadn't been all bad, er, really, but it hadn't been all good. She enjoyed proper discourse and discussion of scholastic topics or subjects she felt an interest in for sure, that wasn't a problem. But a lot hadn't been there either that other kids her age seemed to take in stride.\n\nField trips? Sleepovers? Finding Love? Going to see places far away? \n\nShe'd been to the beach before with her family on vacation, sure, but it hadn't been until living with her uncle she'd found the fun in it and a lot of other things for once in her life. The real fun in just...doing something, really. Or something like that? It was hard to put into words the sensation she'd felt at the time, even now being hard to really try to fathom. But it had been welcome more than anything in her life in a long time. \n\nShopping for a swimsuit with her uncle's girlfriend and daughters, lying on the beach to soak in a nice nap or read a book, talking with people her age without the bar of scholarship between them, all of it! Just things she'd never been able to do for herself had come after that, and then choosing her own path scholastically for the future had come in the wake of those things a time later. \n\nNow it was all gone. Like a bag of weights she was trying to ignore, strapped to her heart and dragging down on it. \n\nAs a certain girl in an older work of fiction had once said: \"We're not in Kansas anymore.\"\n\nShe welcomed the tiredness as the burn of her working muscles began to cool, the beating of her heart began to slow back down as her breathing slowed in turn, and the sweat cooled and evaporated from the surface of her skin and salty droplets sneakily rolled down her cheeks from the corners of her eyes. Even with the tiredness of making a shelter, it couldn't drain everything from her system it seemed. \n\nBut the line between which salty drops rolling over her face and skin were caused by the work, or the metaphorical bag of weight on her heart, didn't seem to much matter in the moment now either. Really it dredged up the crystal-clear image of her uncle smiling like a toothy-grinning idiot, and looking up at the roof of her little shelter and turning her head to look at the sides of it as well she couldn't help but feel the same stupid grin come onto her own face somehow as her stomach rumbled once again. \n\nThe big loveable dunce would have loved making something like this, she figured, then hitting the town for some fresh seafood at his favorite food truck. Heh....ah...\n\n...\n\nIt wouldn't be too long before she'd hear someone walking over, however, and would sit up on the floor of her little shelter and wipe her face off on her right sleeve. Her left hand would briefly come to her head, however, as the dizziness from hunger and tiredness from work made her vision slightly spin. Grabbing her water skin as Adam came up to her, Lillianna would slowly drink up the rest of the water in it before putting it with where she set her backpack in the back corner of the shelter. Likewise the cube, in all of its odd shining metal glory, sat there hidden underneath her backpack as well. \n\n\n\nShe didn't bother to go over to listen to Zell's discussion, which she assumed was strategy from what little she could see going on over there from her position, but Adam's offer was one she really couldn't refuse if her stomach had any say in it. \n\n\"I'll come to join you all, and some cooked fish sounds good to me about now after doing all of this...labor, as it were.\"\n\nLillianna would scoot over and dig underneath her backpack, taking out the cube again to keep it close to her. Just in case. Maybe it would respond or something this tim-\n\n \n\nThe mage briefly paused as she looked at the cube with a raised eyebrow. A response, or at least a response of some kind. Very interesting-, no, fascinating even! Ultimately, however, she let out a small sigh and looked back to Adam. \n\n\"For now, it would be nice to get something to eat before my body tries to argue further-\"\n\n*Rumble*\n\n...Food was a good plan, yes.", "username": "Crusader Lord", "char_name": null }, { "text": "Zell's brow furrowed at the first response to the battle plan. He froze in confusion as he looked on the orange-stained clouds, then turned his head in Adam's direction, about to explain that this was just a formation for battle - not something they were expected to stay in at all times. Fortunately Fenna cut him off.\n\n\"That is a good strategy,\" she said to him. \"When it's time for battle we should try to get into this formation. During travel, someone who can navigate the land should go first. I'm fairly good at recognising animal tracks and the likes, so there may be times I will go ahead of the group.\"\n\n\"Yeah, good idea,\" Zell said back to her, a note of confusion lingering in his voice. At least someone's listening properly. One thing about Fenna that was interesting to Zell was that; although the swordsman rarely heard her talk, when she did talk it had an important weight to it. She was sharp, alright. Content to stay in the background, it seemed, but always aware - no wasted words. Maybe she was just apprehensive, everyone being strangers n all, but she certainly wasn't no fool.\n\nHe looked over his shoulder and nodded to MacKensie when she subscribed to the plan, then shot a teethy snarl at Joji for the big guy's contribution. \"Oorah, Meathead Unit, let's go,\" he growled, giving his fellow swordsman next to him a soft shoulder-bump.\n\nHe grabbed a portion of fish and put it on his plate, \"Ppreciate it, Plant man,\" and when he sat back down, dumped a few rations on the plate as a nice side dish.\n\nAs he ate, distantly listening to MacKensie and Joji talking fishing, he enjoyed the slow-changing sky which was starting to wash out shades of red and purple. He realised that his whole life he'd never actually appreciated a sunset before. To him, it was just something to colour the City of London - maybe set the mood with a girl he was trying to sleep with. Something to accent his tiredness after a long day of football training, or a signal to jump in that shower and have a shave because it was going to be a wild night on the town. But a beautiful sunset wasn't just an accessory - it was a phenomenon amazing all on it's own. There was just always so much going on and so much to do, that he'd never took a moment to notice it.\n\nSweet.\n\n\"We should probably take turns keeping watch during the night,\" and there she was again; Fenna coming in hot with the wisdom. \"Maybe in pairs? It's a strange land after all, and who knows, maybe some others will be interested in that cube we have.\"\n\nAfter MacKensie and James offered themselves on shifts, Zell briefly raised his fork in the air. \"I'll take the first watch. I doubt I'd sleep right away, anyway. Hey Clive, wanna jump on the first shift with me?\"", "username": "Saiyan", "char_name": null } ]

[ { "text": "After waking and greeting everyone up with MacKensie, Adam got to work on packing up his bedroll. Being practiced at the task, it wasn't particularly difficult. He then quickly ate some of his rations for breakfast, not wanting to keep his teammates waiting. The man knew there was another day of hiking ahead of them and wanted to get as much distance in as possible. Examining the map, he found a suitable route, very grateful that he had asked for the navigation tool as he saw what they could have stumbled upon on without proper directions. It was good timing too, as the Druid heard the voice of an older woman ask him a question.\n\n\"Hey, can you show me what route you are planning to take today?\"\n\nAdam smiled at Fenna and answered her, showing her the map and guiding her along with his finger as he did so. \"The morning's going to be pretty similar to what we did yesterday, light trees and hills. I'd like to stay by the water when it's practical in case James needs more spells. I don't entirely understand his magic, but I can tell it's important. The afternoon, however…\" after trailing off a bit, the Druid shook his head a little, \"it's going to get tougher. We're arriving at The Mazy Hillocks. Now, there is a path with steep hills, ravines and rocks. We could go there, if we wanted to annoy ourselves.\" At this, the Druid smirked ever so slightly. \"Fortunately, there is an alternative. There is a quicker route if we head towards the western side of the Hillocks. It will involve some rock climbing up a small cliffside, but I should be able to use my magic to make vines for us that we can use as impromptu ropes. Perhaps you could scout a bit also, help us avoid anything that'll delay us.\" She had said she might go ahead of the group at times, so the idea was reasonable to him. \"What do you think of that path and plan?\"\n\nIt was a sincere question. The man didn't know Fenna very well, but he did know that everyone here had some kind of talent, and her gear and bird suggested that she had some familiarity with the outdoors. Therefore, Adam knew she would be able to positively contribute in some way to their mission to bring the cube to Valheim.", "username": "Zapdos", "char_name": null }, { "text": "@Calle@Dark Cloud@Saiyan@Teyao@Crusader Lord@Goblinguy@Zapdos@Eviledd1984\n\nThe Heroes from the Sky did well to get back on the move early. They moved ever north through the light woodland terrain. The path ahead was littered with potential dangers and delays. Knowledge, skill, stealth, a little luck - all of these things would help them. The wild was unforgiving, even for adventurers, and the creatures to be found there were nothing to scoff at. There were no undead skeletons that might drop their weapons once their leader was down. And there was not 42 townsguard to act as a safety buffer. These were intelligent, ferocious animals whose homes the party would have to pass by or travel through. And without the experience and Source to power their crystals to the higher heights of veteran adventurers, their ability pools were limited, as was their resistance to fatigue and damage.\n\nToday would not be easy.\n\n***\n\nZigmund Mugba-Zarak - elite unit of General Saladin's scout force - sprinted throughout the night. Non-stop, enhancing his stamina through magical means. This would come at a slight cost to his overall power, but it would make no difference if he could catch the heroes from another world out in the wild. They would be no match for him, that much was certain.\n\nOne battle under their belts? Not enough to ascend in strength, not enough to even call themselves a Silver Tier party. This would be comically easy. Had the mission not been so important, had delicacy and accuracy not been required, he'd be tempted to play with his food. Savour the moment. But no, the control core must be apprehended if the Witch Queen's armies were to maintain that one of many advantages. The skeletons were only a portion of the forces, after all. One aspect of the Undead Legions. There were other undead who were not slaves to the control cores. And beyond undead, there were sentient creatures and races in service to Her Majesty. Zigmund himself was human.\n\nWell... he was once upon a time.\n\nBushes and branches wobbled and swayed with the slipstream draft of wind created by Zigmund's speed. He was gaining on them. He could feel it. Smell it. Soon they would all be his.", "username": "xenon", "char_name": "Fenna's Falcon" }, { "text": "Interaction\nLord\n\nA gentle breeze blew through the grass, blowing the smell of morning dew and quite possibly the smell of a dead animal or something. Whatever it was well it sure wasn't a pretty smell to meet one's nostrils, yet it passed as did their camp as it disappeared behind them just like the village before.\n\n\"No fancy automobiles in these parts I reckon,\" the farmer spoke to nobody in particular really whilst walking ahead of the group with Joji and a few of the other men \"Hoo-wee what I wouldn't give for a nice breakfast, don't suppose they have none of them fancy McDonald's here neither?\" though he didn't make a habit of going to the fast food chain Clive would sometimes have a burger with his old man as a kid from time to time, it was more the sentiment of missing things. Besides he wasn't no city boy getting fat on a daily Big Mac.\n\nClive snorted obviously understanding that there would obviously be no fast food chains in this weird world they dound themselves in \"I reckon if ya can't build no stick house maybe you can magic up a breakfast eh Miss Lili?\" she looked like a wizard out of them story books he read as a child. Clive was just trying to lighten the parties mood a bit, as something about the way the wind was changing unsettled him.", "username": "Dark Cloud", "char_name": null }, { "text": "With the rest of the front-liners at the head of the column, Zell decided to take up rear-guard duties, walking solo in contented silence as he kept a vigil on the surround. Two days travel from Hommas to Valhiem. This meant that today would be nothing but walking. Boooring! was his thought in assessment. His body could handle it, but his mind was far better suited to being occupied with something interesting. Like money. Or beer. Or how to get money to buy beer. Nonetheless he would do it without complaint. Perhaps Professor Bradford's influence that had led to a turnaround in attitude over the last few months would pay dividends for this new stage in his life. He had a task to complete. It may involve uninteresting stretches and require an extra effort of attention and concentration. Get it done to the best of one's ability. For the good of the future.\n\nYes. The old university lecturer had finally gotten through that thick skull. And those truths that Zell needed to hear were perhaps more important now than ever before.\n\nZell's eyes drifted skyward to catch sight of the falcon that had befriended Fenna, gliding high up in soaring circles. It only occured to him now that that the bird of prey's interest in the ranger might have something to do with The Gift. What a world this was. Like a medieval marvel movie or something. Zell's media knowledge didn't extend far enough that he had anything else to compare it more accurately to, but he felt the fantastical potential of it all, and wondered if sword fighters like himself had ways and means of attaining special abilities too.\n\nSo many questions, so few answers - A running theme since he woke up in the recently-rennovated bathroom of ol' Edric and Lilian.\n\nHe took his eyes off the surrounding woodland once more to see up ahead, James and MacKensie chatting. Then he heard and saw Clive talking to Lillianna. The sights brought a slight smile to his face. It was good that the team were building chemistry. The stronger the bonds, the stronger the will to run through brick walls for eachother. It'd be hard to establish such a strong connection between strangers so quickly, but they would have to make do with the hand they were dealt. And everyone was trying. That was the important part.\n\nAlright, enough mushy stuff asshole, Zell told himself, his smile growing as he looked away to focus back on his job. Doesn't suit you one bit.\n\nAfter an hour or so, he took his backpack off to retrieve some rations that were easy to eat on the go. His relatively disciplined regiment of diet and exercise was going to go out of the window in this world, he could feel it already. Still, skipping breakfast completely would be a crime, so he munched on some bits n pieces as he walked, his hands ever-ready to drop everything and draw his sword, should his senses detect an attack.", "username": "Saiyan", "char_name": null }, { "text": "@Dark Cloud\n\nJoji Yamazaki\n\nJoji after stretching out his limbs stood up and helped James with packing everything away. \"Did you sleep well? I hope my stories didn't keep you up all night.\" He would feel bad if his telling those Japanese folktales kept James up all night. \"Hopefully it wouldn't take too long to get to Valhiem.\" Joji wanted to be back in civilization as fast as possible. Helping him finish packing before heading off with the group. The first thing he was going to do when he arrived in the city is purchase a new suit. His current outfit felt quite old fashioned. He hoped that they would know how to tailor a good suit. He sure did have enough money to purchase a suit, or so he thought. \n\nJoji chuckled when Clive mentioned if their would be Mcdonald in Valhiem. \"I'm not sure if their would one around, but maybe you could get a steak or something there.\" In the back of his mind he thought that would be the first thing an American would want. But he felt like an asshole for even thinking about it. \"I just hope they got something good to eat.\" Joji made sure to keep to his position. Having his hand on the sheath of his sword in case he needed to use it. His eyes kept focused on the surrounding area. Making sure that the group would not be ambushed.", "username": "Eviledd1984", "char_name": null }, { "text": "Fenna watched the map as Adam explained the route he had planned. It was a sensible one. The first part of the route didn't seem like it would give them a lot of trouble, and staying close to the river was always a good idea. The second part would be difficult, regardless of the path they chose. \n\"It's a good plan,\" she agreed when he asked her opinion on it. \"On paper that looks like the best route through the Mazy Hillocks, but we can reassess when we get there. Easier terrain could also be home to things we'd rather avoid.\" Having seen what she needed to see, she looked up. \"I'd be happy to scout ahead when needed.\"\n\nShe then turned to Mackensie who had asked her a question. \"Of course. When we make our next camp I'd be happy to teach you what I know.\"\nAs Mackensie turned to her duties, Fenna also packed her bag and went to the river to fill the waterskin. \n\nIt didn't take long before everyone was ready to leave and so was Fenna. She walked at the front this time and the falcon didn't stray far from them. Every time it noticed the distance getting too large, it circled back to them, using the air currents to glide circles. With Adam responsible for keeping the group on track, Fenna had her attention mostly on the ground. This path looked like it was used often by locals, which made sense. It was an easy road and close to a river. \n\nShe spotted a tree that was easy to climb and grabbed the first branch to do so. It would give her a good overview of the area - the last thing she wanted was to be surprised by more skeletons. Am I going to climb in a tree every day? she wondered and chuckled to herself. She didn't need to climb to the top, halfway up she already had a good view. No skeletons or other big monsters in sight. A flash of grey sprinted away in tall grass, it was gone before she had properly seen it, but it reminded her of a big dog. The glittering in that area made her think there was a body of water. Drinking place for local wildlife?\n\nWhat did the local wildlife look like?\n\nShe climbed down to walk with the group again. A single animal wouldn't be an issue, they would never attack a group. Some dangerous animals lived in packs though and there was no reason to assume it would be different here. \n\n\"I don't think skeletons will be our only concern,\" she stated. \"I saw an animal run away that was large enough to be a concern if there are more of them.\"", "username": "Calle", "char_name": null } ]

[ { "text": "Adam was happy that Fenna supported his plan, and of course it would make sense to adjust the plan as needed based on the circumstances at the time. \"Of course, thank you Fenna\" he said in response to her. Focused as he was on planning the route, the man didn't do much else besides refill his canteen before the group set off on the path he had chosen.\n\nAnd so far, it had been fairly uneventful. With Fenna scouting and himself making sure their travel was going according to plan, there hadn't been any impediments to their path so far. Really, so far he had seen the same tranquil sights as yesterday. Not that the Druid minded at all, but he knew in the back of his mind that this couldn't last forever. That was why he tried to stay near the middle of the group, ready to engage in battle if the need arose. Zell's formation made sense, despite the guy himself confusing the red-eyed man, so he would do the best he could to adhere to it.\n\n\"I don't think skeletons will be our only concern. I saw an animal run away that was large enough to be a concern if there are more of them.\"\n\nAnd she was correct. There was potential for a fight ahead with some wolves, and while Adam knew he could navigate the team through the outdoors, he wasn't prepared to lead them into a battle. And Lillianna's announcement that the enemy might know where they were wasn't a random guess; the man had thought such a thing was possible the day before. There was a great deal going on here and if the group was going to survive, they would have to work as a team.\n\n\"Yes, we have a lot to be concerned by. The wildlife and maybe the Witch Queen knowing where we are could be short term dangers to us.\" Saying this, Adam nodded at Lillianna in a sign of support. \"So we'll need to work together if we're going to succeed.\" Saying this, he turned to face James and asked him a question. \"As the one who probably knows more about strategy than anyone else here, what do you think we should do?\"", "username": "Zapdos", "char_name": null }, { "text": "Maybe thinking that he had woken up turned out to be wrong after all, yeah he reacted and did all the things that he should have done but there was still this small part of him that was still in Lalaland even as they started to move, and talk between each other, it was frankly just Adam talking directly to him that broke him of his fugue.\n\n\n\nAt his words, his mind went from 0 to 100, and the reality of what was going on settled on his shoulders once again.\n\nHe reaaaalllyy missed his morning coffee.\n\nAdopting a thinking position to win time for himself to think he went back through the conversation he hadn't been part of until now, unknown animals on the path and someone or something maybe pursuing them, fuck that wasn't good, on one hand going around sounded like the safest route but he didn't know from which side they could get hit and he didn't want to be the metal between hammer and anvil but the problem was that some unknown animals could very well be dangerous, maybe even more than the Skeletons they had fought and he didn't fancy having to fight against another army while tired.\n\nDescicions, desicions.\n\nFinally, he came to a conclusion \"I say... we continue if we are being pursued then our best bet would be to reach the city as fast as possible, last time we had the town guards to help us and we had loses.\" He didn't want to think back at those that lost their lives in the fight, or how it could have been any of them \"That doesn't mean we have to be stupid about it, if we can dodge having a fight with whatever is on the path then we do, if it insists on a fight we kill it fast, too dangerous and we run, easy like that. Maybe it will even work as a deterrent if something is trying to follow us\" \n\nHe could only hope that he had made the right decision.", "username": "Teyao", "char_name": null }, { "text": "Just because she had woken up in a better mood - more emotionally resilient after her talks with Fenna and Adam - it did not mean that everyone else had.\n\nIt took her a few minutes to realise this fact as she watched James give vacant replies to her, his demeanour distant. She'd took it for dismissiveness at first, wondering why the sudden change in his disposition towards her, seeing as they'd gotten along quite well during yesterday's travelling. Honestly, she was a little miffed at first, but shortly after she realised that she was being incredibley self-centered and spoiled to expect anything from the Cleric.\n\nMacKensie Rosetta Trydant, you must be better than this, the scolding voice in her head was her mothers.\n\nWho knew what was going through James' head. Who knew what he might have dreamt last night. It would take more than twenty-fours to adjust to this new life - this abduction - and perhaps some of the group would never get over it. And here MacKensie was, pestering him with questions, tugging his robe to point at some stupid deer, like a child.\n\nA few minutes to realise herself... a few minutes too long. Be better.\n\nShe fell into silence as they walked, after that, feeling bad about her behaviour and feeling bad for her friend. Some time later, Fenna enlightened the party about potential problems ahead. Then Lillianna came forward to drop a bomb of her own. So much all at once. MacKensie's eyes widened as she gauged the reaction of everyone, unsure herself how to approach the situation. Lillianna was frighteningly pale, her forehead looking clammy with sweat. MacKensie stepped next to her, touching her elbow. \"It's okay,\" she said softly to the wizard. \"We will figure this out.\"\n\nWhen Adam spoke, eventually putting the question to James, MacKensie hoped that the man would be okay enough to put his tactical mind to good use. The ranger was hopeful as Adam's question looked like it had flicked a switch inside James. He was back. And he made up his mind - they were to forge straight ahead. Qui n'avance pas recule, her father's voice this time - his favourite proverb. MacKensie nodded, happy with the decision. It was time for her to do something too, Fenna inspiring her with the tree climbing.\n\n\"I can be a look out,\" the Frenchwoman offered sharply, glancing over a few faces with a fire in her eyes. Perhaps she didn't know anything about scouting. It was time for some 'on the job' learning. \"Our heading is that way?\" she asked Adam, double-checking with him and his compass. \"Okay, I will come back immediately if I see anything.\"\n\nAnd with that, she went ahead in something of a jog, but keeping low and on alert. She'd only gone a hundred yards before she fired her gauntlet up at an extremely tall tree, then flew up to it, squatting on a sturdy branch as she kept a look-out. Her adrenaline was already starting to flow - a good job really, because it protected her from worrying about the dizzying, deathly height she'd ascended too. Still, she would see danger before danger caught sight of them.\n\nIf the party safely caught up to her, then she'd leap from the branch in a T-pose, instinctively faithful in her newfound ability. Then with a thrust of her left hand, the magical wire of blue light fired from her gauntlet, northbound to the next tree. It latched on and she quickly closed in on her target position - swinging low into an arc as she did, Indiana Jones-style, before zipping up to the next branch and flipping acrobatically onto it. If she could see herself, she'd marvel, but she was too busy looking for danger.", "username": "Zool", "char_name": null } ]

[ { "text": "As much as he had hoped that there would have been more crates than what he saw, Njal was more than happy when finding the diagnostic panel, feeling as though he had struck gold as he removed the panel from the crate. \"This should fetch a pretty coin.\" He muttered, setting it up against the wooden container for a moment before placing just enough material from the other crates where the panel had been.\n\nIt would be as though there never was a diagnostic panel in the first place while he made sure to reseal the crates before grabbing the panel, leaving the cargo deck as casually as he had entered, wondering how successful his pet was in stealing whatever pill bottles it could find. He wouldn't have time to check as he walked back to his room, finding a good enough spot to store the panel until the ship reached the Kharak town spaceport, keeping it hidden from sight in case the crew were to discover it missing before reaching the spaceport. Once he felt it was well out of sight, Njal began to make his way back to the mess hall, not wanting the others to become suspicious of his long absence as he walked, hearing the faint sounds of the Krite rolling through the ventilation for a split second which caused him to grin. If his pet had been successful in finding any pill bottles worth a lot of coin, selling those along with the panel would land him with more than enough coin to spend on himself, along with more food for his pet and maybe a checkup on its microchip.\n\nPushing the thought away as Njal neared the mess hall, the grin on his face disappeared, being replaced by a stoic look just before he entered, putting on the usual facade he had grown to wear around others as he grabbed a plate. He remained silent while filling up his plate with a large pile of food, needing to eat quite a bit due to his overall size before sitting down at a table away from the others, mulling over his plan several times in his mind as he ate. Everything was going smoothly without a hitch so far, there was no way he would get caught! With his confidence being this high, Njal felt that nothing could possibly go wrong at this point and that it was smooth sailing from here on until reaching the spaceport. He occasionally stole a glance at the other crew members, listening as they talked, not caring what they were talking about unless it involved the diagnostic panel, in which he would try to listen in as much as he could.\n\nMeanwhile...\n\nThe Krite was nearly finished with transporting every pill bottle that was in the crate, down to the last three bottles as it made it's way back to the room with a bottle securely placed in its teeth filled maw. With how much work it was doing, the Krite would be expecting to receive some kind of reward in the form of some edible meat, feeling this was the most work it ever had to do in its life as it rolled along through the ventilation, reaching the room and placing the bottle within it's cage. However, the Krite noticed how much space the pill bottles were taking up in it's cage, making it wonder if it will be able to fit in there once all the bottles were put in the cage. It was something its owner would have to figure out as the Krite rolled back into the open vent, making it's way back to Luck's room to retrieve the remaining bottles, moving fast through the vents with a strong determination to finish the job. Its owner always gave the Krite a good reward after every job it was given was carried out successfully, and that is what kept the Krite motivated to carry out its given task.", "username": "EternalDragon", "char_name": "Njal Ulrik" }, { "text": "Anxi munched away enjoying her meal adding raw sugar to most of it like other would salt but it wasn't just for taste but stored energy a little trick she'd learned in her years as a combat pilot. She listened to the others an the Captain only giggling at the go easy with the junior admin. Boz didn't look fragile but she was sure she could leave him in a daze.\nThe others seemed very concerned with the Dee an that made the little pilot smile as she said \"If yall look in the reports my Maneuver an Control assessment is up. The Dee is an old ship but I can make her fly right, jus don want any parts tumbling off she might need to stay off the dirt.\nShe has a control vibration in the Port thrusters from 50% to 68% load and likes to drop power half a sec in transition from VTOL to Flight or Flight to VTOL I think might be the blast deflectors making the exhaust cough due to engine blowback prob the articulation joints but she's an old girl so what she rattles a little.\"\nGiggles picturing the Dee actually farting just above the Starport", "username": "EmiliaBaiYue", "char_name": "Anxi Yue" }, { "text": "\"Oh, a diagnostic panel?\" the Orangutan smiles bemusedly. \"A... new one?\"\n\nWhere had the fox found a 'new' diagnostic panel for a ship over sixty years old?\n\n\"Uh, was this like still crated in some warehouse?\" Karma pressed, absently putting the cleaning cloth in the pocket of her coveralls as she went to sit down. \"I bet someone was happy to finally get rid of it, not like there's a lot of demand for sixty-year old tech. In the yards, if we had to work on one, we just refurbished it because of all the....\"\n\n\"Wait!\" she paused in the act of sitting down, looking over at the captain in a panic. \"You want me to swap out a Constellion-class diagnostic panel before we leave?!\" \n\nThe panel in Engineering was two meters tall and wide! She was looking at two days work, at least! Unless....\n\n\"Captain, is this like a universal diagnostic panel?\" Since nobody was making the old diagnostic panels anymore, someone had the bright idea of making these large computerized displays that ran an emulator that you just plugged in. And they were cheap. Well, cheap-ish.", "username": "Expendable", "char_name": "Peppermint Karma Riddle" } ]

[ { "text": "Anxi pivoted in her seat, the pilots seat with a cute smile on her face as she hummed a tune she'd heard partying last night among the other grounded pilots her slender digits delicately taping in the commands. Her reason for request the common free trader reason, Cargo Speculation. In the fleet she'd seen 1,000s of these and knew by research that up to 27% were for nefarious reasons but unless the Pig wasn't paying off the Navy brass they only had to worry about stumbling into a random patrol or overzealous law enforcement & customs ship. \nSure he was slime but he was rich dangerous slime and in her knowledge of the creature smart and the only ones that worked for him that had to worry about him were the foolish, unlucky, or worse and where the dark stories come from the greedy. \nKharak Town spaceport, Kharak Town spaceport says a slender panther boy his sleek fur as black as night making her job so easy.\nMost requests are very Bureaucratic an dull but by the time she'd signed off Anxi had the young man purring an looking forward to helping her personally with the landing papers of the ship then treating her to a top flight meal an drinks if she could get the time.\nFinished she assumed a very unconventional position in her lovely chair her long legs over the top her head hanging off the seat as she began a pilots check list. She loved the Dauntless because as her pilot she was Dee's true master the others that knew how to ...fly not even close to her. Sure she was cocky about her skills but it wasn't bragging when you can back it up.\nDee was such a simple ship but she was a tough little thing so her check list a short one. Anxi knew as any pilot knew the secret to survival in combat is simplicity, complex ships were nice till something broke an the redundancies failed. \"The more complicated the Plumbing the easier it is to stop up the drain\" said some great engineer an a moto any experienced pilot shared. \nThat made her think of the other person aboard she should begin a friendship with the shy girl Karma, maybe she could coax her to her quarters for tea maybe goodies goddess knew she had enough goodies from admirers.\nThat thought made Anxi flip over in her seat an sit upright\n\nhi Karma consider this as informal contact\nIn fleet I always liked to chat with those who knew the ship physically because it helps me understand the ship's limits an list of injuries. I love Dee an need to understand as you do her woes an advantages because we go in harm's way and the better I understand the better her chances of surviving an by extension everyone aboard. So long com long Can we meet either in engineering or either of our quarters, in mine is several types of tea and goodies from several lovers or hopefuls I need to dwindle.\nPlease respond", "username": "EmiliaBaiYue", "char_name": "Anxi Yue" }, { "text": "The diagnostic panel was shot. Literally shot. Karma was half-afraid to ask what had happened to it? But until she had the time to repair it, she'd have to do a manual check. Fortunately for her, she had fourteen years experience running manual checks. \n\nEach ship they'd bring into the yard would have one critical component pulled to keep the prisoners from using it to escape - and the diagnostic panel would tell the prisoners exactly what component that was, so they weren't allowed to check it. They'd also drain most of the fuel, leaving just enough to get it into and out of the yard. Since her escape, she bet they now drained all the tanks before letting one of the mechanic prisoners in.\n\nBut it was a good thing the Dauntless was on the ground.\n\nThe auxiliary oxygen generator wouldn't turn on. \nThe APU's batteries were half dead. \nVarious components on the engine were wearing out and needed replacement, now.\nAnd if there was a fire, forget the fire suppression system.\n\nKarma sighed, wiping the grease off her hands. The Dauntless needed an overhaul. Overhauls need money for parts and labor. Judging by the state of the rest of the ship, money was in very short supply. She'd take the captain a list of what was needed, but she'd probably need to raid the local boneyard to find parts the ship could use.", "username": "Expendable", "char_name": "Peppermint Karma Riddle" } ]

[ { "text": "Anxi munched away enjoying her meal adding raw sugar to most of it like other would salt but it wasn't just for taste but stored energy a little trick she'd learned in her years as a combat pilot. She listened to the others an the Captain only giggling at the go easy with the junior admin. Boz didn't look fragile but she was sure she could leave him in a daze.\nThe others seemed very concerned with the Dee an that made the little pilot smile as she said \"If yall look in the reports my Maneuver an Control assessment is up. The Dee is an old ship but I can make her fly right, jus don want any parts tumbling off she might need to stay off the dirt.\nShe has a control vibration in the Port thrusters from 50% to 68% load and likes to drop power half a sec in transition from VTOL to Flight or Flight to VTOL I think might be the blast deflectors making the exhaust cough due to engine blowback prob the articulation joints but she's an old girl so what she rattles a little.\"\nGiggles picturing the Dee actually farting just above the Starport", "username": "EmiliaBaiYue", "char_name": "Anxi Yue" }, { "text": "\"Oh, a diagnostic panel?\" the Orangutan smiles bemusedly. \"A... new one?\"\n\nWhere had the fox found a 'new' diagnostic panel for a ship over sixty years old?\n\n\"Uh, was this like still crated in some warehouse?\" Karma pressed, absently putting the cleaning cloth in the pocket of her coveralls as she went to sit down. \"I bet someone was happy to finally get rid of it, not like there's a lot of demand for sixty-year old tech. In the yards, if we had to work on one, we just refurbished it because of all the....\"\n\n\"Wait!\" she paused in the act of sitting down, looking over at the captain in a panic. \"You want me to swap out a Constellion-class diagnostic panel before we leave?!\" \n\nThe panel in Engineering was two meters tall and wide! She was looking at two days work, at least! Unless....\n\n\"Captain, is this like a universal diagnostic panel?\" Since nobody was making the old diagnostic panels anymore, someone had the bright idea of making these large computerized displays that ran an emulator that you just plugged in. And they were cheap. Well, cheap-ish.", "username": "Expendable", "char_name": "Peppermint Karma Riddle" }, { "text": "Evren noticed how Anxi giggled. He could not help it but found the little red panda had an attractive smile. However as captain, engaging in personal relationships with those who work under you was a no go. Or least rules against fraternization were something that was continually drilled into the fox at the Omnicore academy as such actions undermined unit cohesion, discipline and lead to commanding officers showing favoritism towards underlings. However he wasn't in Omnicore anymore and wasn't sure if such rules should still apply to his ship. This wasn't Omnicore and he would make damn sure that it would never turn into anything like them.\n\nEvren repressed such thoughts to the back of his mind as Karma had questions about the panel. The Orangutang looked rather startled by his suggestion to install the diagnostic panel before they would depart again. \"It's an original one. As new as you can get these days. It belonged to the spareparts stock of a small shipping company that went bankrupt last year. They flew a small fleet of Constellions, mostly between the Frontier and the Rim but lost business to more efficient ships. Most was already sold but there was not much interest in the diagnostic panel. I guess those things will just keep working until you put a few bullets in them.\"\n\nFor a moment he looked closely at Karma, wondering what part of the request had startled her. \"You think there isn't enough time to replace it before we depart? Would extra hands help? Perhaps Njal can help out. Considering the size and weight of that thing his strength might come in handy.\"\n\nThe fox took a bite of the food and noticed it was pretty tasty, not that his standards in food were particularly high. Anything that tasted better as his own cooking or field rations would get an easy pass. Luck's cooking was more than sufficient. However the droid also mentioned that his scheduled maintenance was coming up again. And with other required repairs and maintenance. Karma already had a lot on her plate.\"Hmm, perhaps doing the panel before departure is a bit much. Can we do it when flying, Karma?\"", "username": "Milkman", "char_name": "Evren Frost" } ]

[ { "text": "Darien Ziplon\n\nDarien sat at one of the tables back to the mess hall doors because he had a modicum of trust on the ship. You can trust your shipmates, just as you trust your squad mates and company unit. If you can't trust the people you work with...well you're in the wrong unit. He noshed away at the food and listened to the banter. Pleasant news around. Anxi landed a way into Dock supplies by the sound if it, good on her. And a diagnostic panel had been found. And discussions were going on about if it could be installed.\n\nThe bobcat scoops up the last dregs on his plate and is just sopping up the last bits with a piece of bread when his comunit beeps and shakes. The older fellow riches for it, stopping brief to wipe his hands, then grabbing the com unit up and thumbing it on. His eyes narrowed pupils slitting. \"Whit th' hell? this is a auld contact.\" The bobcat read the message.\"Na wey, cannae be. This haes gotta be some kind o' peely-wally joke.\" He looked over at the captain \"Sur let's nae celebrate yit, cause a dinnae ken if this is true or nae, bit someone fae back in mah alphabet days says thay hae a surplus auto doc unit that thay kin secure fur me. Thay wantae catch up wi` ower in th' heich hive district. Something lik' that cuid be a gift 'n' mair. \"\n\nThe old bobcat looked at Evren \"If hee haw else ought tae gang ower 'n' titch base. If tis anither corpsman micht be able tae hampden roar some supplies if th' auto doc thing is a deid leid.\" He gave the young captain a smile, \"Sound a'richt tae ye laddie?\"\n\nThe bobcat is already rising to his feet to put his plate and utensils into the washer. The man is military in thr end so permission from his CO would be nice. Just trying to be polite in the end. And yes respectful too.", "username": "BigPapaBelial", "char_name": "Darien Ziplon" }, { "text": "Njal had paused in eating for just a moment when he heard the captain mention his name, briefly staring at Evren before shifting his gaze to Karma, not even realizing how much he was bending the utensil in his paw. This would end up being a huge problem for him to resolve. He had to sell that panel as soon as possible before Karma discovered it missing, that way if Evren were to have the crew search the Dauntless for it, the panel would no longer be in his room for the others to find and ultimately avoid being caught in the long run. Simple and easy, that's all it was. Bending his utensil back the way it was, Njal continued to eat the food remaining on his plate, forming a plan on what he would need to do once he was finished eating, hoping to execute his plan smoothly without any problems along the way. Although, with how shy and timid Karma already was, he could always intimidate her into keeping her mouth shut, a thought that he would keep on the back burner if it ever came to that.\n\nHell, if it did ever come to that, threatening to make her disappear might keep her quiet for months.\n\nBack in his room, the Krite had finally succeeded in transporting every pill bottle to its cage, in which the creature was also in its cage to rest despite the little bit of space it had. The Krite would wait until Njal returned to the room, sleeping until then as it felt it deserved to get some rest for its hard work, staying rolled up in a ball as it slept.", "username": "EternalDragon", "char_name": "Njal Ulrik" } ]

[ { "text": "Doc Dar\n\n\"Crew to the bridge for a meeting.\"\n\nThat had been the request earlier. Darien had done as asked. Heading up to the bridge and parking himself at a window. He looked out and sighed, \"Taxore.\" He said simply and as they waited for the briefing to begin he peered out the window, \"Polux Base...workers revolt\" He muttered as they passed over some mountains on the surface. After abit he rumbled, \"And there's Tank Town 1918...Hostile take over...\" He shook his head sadly. And a little while later, down below the irregular form of a Hive city can be seen on the surface, \"Hive City Vorkun...Corp Inflitration.\" He spat to the side, then stomped on the wet spot on the deck and scrapped it clean with his boot, \"Some auld lang syne ought tae bade bottled up.\"\n\nHe gave a sniff and turned in time to hear the beginning of the briefing. He really didn't want to look down at the planet that he'd been on a few times doing Corp dirty work. He crossed his arms and listened carefully. So the Captain had found them another job. Praise any deity who wants to listen. But then the other shoe drops. He blinks, and clears his throat, \"Captain...\" His slight scottish accent in evidence, \"Captain, urr ye saying that oor contractor is aff tae be a gang leader sur? 'n' yin that seems tae be fairly weel-kent if he's git a moniker even?\" He clears his throat, \"Juist wanting tae mak' sure ah heard ye richt.\" He doesn't sound to be naysaying or anything, but sounds cautious. \"We didnae gie muckle mynd tae gangs 'n' th' lik' back in th' asf, juist odd trying tae wrap mah heid aroond workin' wi' thaim.\" He shrugs, \"Bit na maiter whilk wey ye cannae git rid o' me. Sae a'm in lik' Flynn.\"\n\nThe older feline nods then gives a shrug, all good to go either way.", "username": "BigPapaBelial", "char_name": "Darien Ziplon" }, { "text": "It was incredible that for the fourteen years since her surgery, her abdomen still ached. Today wasn't quite as bad, so Karma was glad she hadn't taken a sip of moonshine that morning to dull it further. The smell would definitely carry in such a small room, and it wouldn't look good for their new engineer to be pegged as a raging alcoholic.\n\nThere were only a few seats on the bridge, which Karma didn't mind as it was safer to stand with your back against a wall, but gritting her teeth made her face look tense and angry, especially with all the scars on it. It didn't help that so many had punched it in prison, for one reason or another. She was glad that nobody here had tried it - yet.\n\nStill, in the rush to move aboard the Dauntless, she wish she'd grabbed a few things. A mug for herself. The shop that had the carpet also had bioplastic multitools, and one did transform into a cup - but it was also a brush, and she didn't think she'd like to brush her hair with whatever she'd been drinking. Or how long it might last with her homemade brew, once her current supply was out. Tea would be nice, something fruity or flowery instead of all the black tea. A flask or even a bottle of gentle pain killers. \n\nA bottle of meds that MaMa or some other prisoner wouldn't immediately whisk away after knocking her down, even after \"learning her lesson.\" And you couldn't go back to the docs and tell them the bottle was stolen, they'd just nod, not believing or just not caring, saying she'd have to pay for more. And mark you down as \"drug seeking\". Her eyes shifted to Dar, wondering what he'd charge her for services? It was bad enough she didn't understand what the male was saying half the time.\n\nThey seemed friendly enough, but after her time in the prison work camp, she was leery of receiving favors - you never knew how someone might want it paid back. After all, it was a favor that landed her in prison.\n\nShe raised her head - and realized they were all looking at her. \nOh god....\n\n\"Uh,\" she managed, swallowing, \"Wh... whatever you want to do.\"", "username": "Expendable", "char_name": "Peppermint Karma Riddle" } ]

[ { "text": "Just as Njal was about to release the Krite, the captain had entered the mess hall before asking him to return the furball to its cage to keep it from devouring whatever food they had, giving a nod of understanding. \"Of course, captain.\"\n\nKeeping a firm hold of the Krite as he left the mess hall, Njal waited until he was far away enough to release his pet as he tossed it onto the floor, watching it bounce a few times before rolling along the floor on its own. Even though he was heading back to his room, Njal began to have other ideas in mind, such as taking a quick walk to the cargo deck to see if there would be anything good enough to take and use it for haggling with any merchants who would be willing to make a bargain with him. The only problem was to avoid being caught by the crew or the captain. Upon reaching his room with his pet, Njal shut the door and listened for a moment to make sure no one else was close by or able to listen in on what would happen next, grinning when he only heard silence as he stared down at the Krite who stared back up at him with its bright red eyes.\n\n\"Alright, I need you,\" Njal said, using his paws to make gestures that he had used many times to train his pet to help understand him. \"To go through the vents and search everyone's room for this.\" He explained as he lifted his bed mattress and pulled out an empty pill bottle that he had swiped from a trashcan in the medical bay. \"Bring these here and keep them hidden in your cage.\"\n\nSo far, it seemed that the Krite understood him as it gave a nod, watching as Njal walked over to the corner of the room and move a table that was placed against the wall, revealing a vent that he had opened to allow his pet to explore through the vent system. It had taken the Krite a good while to navigate through the ventilation without any problem of remembering how to find its way back to the room, of which Njal had to sometimes sneak around if the Krite had forgotten to find its way back and retrieve it from the vents. He wasn't completely sure if anyone had noticed him removing the furball from previous ventilation exploring, but so far no one had said anything or even mentioned anything about it, so there was no need to worry. Without further hesitation, the Krite rolled into the open vent, allowing Njal to place the table back up against the wall to keep anyone from noticing that it was open in the first place.\n\nFeeling satisfied, Njal then left his room and began to casually make his way to the cargo deck, checking all around him to make sure there was no one else around to spot him, in which he would just act like he was doing nothing and abort his plan altogether.", "username": "EternalDragon", "char_name": "Njal Ulrik" }, { "text": "Darien had just finished up the final line of the reel he had been playing about a historic and ancient train back on Terra, the train had been used in a now famous and classic young adults movie series about magic and adventure. Pre-Market collapse holos and video disks of the movies still sold for millions I'd you were lucky to find them. As he's blazing the last notes of the song and into the ending drone, his pipes humming above him, he spots thr captain head I the hall door. He gives the young man a nod as the old Scot bobcat starts to put his great pipes away. As he's doing so the young captain speaks. And the old cat quirks a brow, \"Och captain ah kin sum it a' up in a few wee wurds if ye lik'. Or a list tae kin tak' a paukit bit langer. Bit a list yi'll waant a list ye wull git aye.\" Darien carefully put his pipes back in its protective, reinforced and shielded container and pushes it out of the way. Then turned back to the captain, \"Gimme a short bit 'n' ah will follow ye back tae th' fankle wi' a list captain, bet yer fuzzy pumpin' tail ah wull. Gang oan catch up in a short paukit wee bit.\"\n\nAfter the captain left the great kilted bobcat sat at his desk in medical and began to draw up a list of supplies. In his mind everything was right damned important. But things like bandages, painkillers, disinfectants, antisceptics and drugs came at the top of the list. Splints, break healing apparti and crush damage solving items were up high too. Space sickness drugs. A new supply of hibernation fluid wouldn't hurt the stuff they had would go rancid in a few trips and no one wanted to come out of the pod smelling like 19 day old cheese and unwashed underwear. Nausea aids might be nice too. On down to getting a crew to come in and assess the ship for medical hazards. Though technically Darien could do that assessment, why do the work, when you can get the Rook or a good team to do it for you? \"If you're not cheating, you're not winning\" was the motto of the corpsman Corp of Alphabet security after all.\n\nA short time later Darien drifted into the mess hall, still wearing his great kilt tartan and travel short kilt, Macpherson colors, the same colors his family wore, still draped over him. He smiles, \"Gie a guid scotsmans yin thing, th' kilt kin seem streenge, bit th' breeze o'er mah baws is sure something let me tell ye.\" The scottish feline gave out a proper chortle as he walked over to the you captain and handed him a data slate \"That stoatin list ye asked fur sur. Itemized 'n' sorted by priority. We're richt fucked if we dinnae pick up everything oan it eventually, bit th' maist wantit is thare at th' tap. Gaun a stowed oot journey wi' oot th' tap stuff, 'n' ye kin ad weel sign oor death warrants son.\" The rather brutally honest medic made his way to see what kind of snot Luck had put together today.", "username": "BigPapaBelial", "char_name": "Darien Ziplon" } ]

[ { "text": "Luck, First Officer\nLuck emitted a quick double bleep, representing a genuine chuckle as the captain made mention of his cooking endeavors. \n\nThe First Officer peered at the slowly assembling crew as he finished up his delicate cooking process and served the scran up into the simple bowls set over for the crew. He had somehow managed to make what was effectively meat, root vegetables, and whatever was left at the back of the cabinets look appetising. Quite impressive for someone without any kind of tastebuds. He just hoped it tasted as good as it looked.\n\nLuck leered at the data slate, hoping to get a peak. He'd bring it up with the captain later and figure out the accounting needed. For now, he was looking at the faces.\n\nNo sign of the massive cargo hauler. He quickly flipped through his variety of cameras, finding the chap loitering in the cargo bay, despicably bare as it was. He appeared to be looking at the diagnostic panel. Luck had no idea what he was doing, as he was made aware that food was being served. Oh well, who was he to question someone being odd?\n\nBut something about the huge bloke set Luck's alarm bells ringing. It was hard to control a lone wolf like that. How would he sway him with honeyed words if they never shared any? For now, Luck refocused on the room around him. \n\nThe small crew had assembled slowly as the smells from the mess began to permeate the upper decks. He called out, [/color=Cyan]\"Dinner's up, come get a plate!\"[/color]\n\nAfter leaving the bowls hot on the side and ready to be claimed he wandered over to Karma studying her face quickly, the noticeable scars on her face as well as her obvious nervousness. Luck attempted to put her at ease by initiating the conversation with an open posture and a friendly voice. All he was missing was the sickly-sweet voice, but nay, he would make do with the social functions he possessed. He quickly engaged her in conversation before she could slither away, \"Heya Karma, just wanted to talk to you about repairs needed to the ship, as well as my upcoming maintenance check-up.\" He continued with a swooping motion of his hand, \"The first one because I'm going to be renting a hauler, and if you help me with my chores ground side, I'd be more than willing to help you with what you need to get done. And the second because I'd like to get checked out ASAP after we're done on that god-forsaken planet. The dust does my joints mischief, you know?\"", "username": "PerfectThought", "char_name": "Codec Arms Shell-138" }, { "text": "As much as he had hoped that there would have been more crates than what he saw, Njal was more than happy when finding the diagnostic panel, feeling as though he had struck gold as he removed the panel from the crate. \"This should fetch a pretty coin.\" He muttered, setting it up against the wooden container for a moment before placing just enough material from the other crates where the panel had been.\n\nIt would be as though there never was a diagnostic panel in the first place while he made sure to reseal the crates before grabbing the panel, leaving the cargo deck as casually as he had entered, wondering how successful his pet was in stealing whatever pill bottles it could find. He wouldn't have time to check as he walked back to his room, finding a good enough spot to store the panel until the ship reached the Kharak town spaceport, keeping it hidden from sight in case the crew were to discover it missing before reaching the spaceport. Once he felt it was well out of sight, Njal began to make his way back to the mess hall, not wanting the others to become suspicious of his long absence as he walked, hearing the faint sounds of the Krite rolling through the ventilation for a split second which caused him to grin. If his pet had been successful in finding any pill bottles worth a lot of coin, selling those along with the panel would land him with more than enough coin to spend on himself, along with more food for his pet and maybe a checkup on its microchip.\n\nPushing the thought away as Njal neared the mess hall, the grin on his face disappeared, being replaced by a stoic look just before he entered, putting on the usual facade he had grown to wear around others as he grabbed a plate. He remained silent while filling up his plate with a large pile of food, needing to eat quite a bit due to his overall size before sitting down at a table away from the others, mulling over his plan several times in his mind as he ate. Everything was going smoothly without a hitch so far, there was no way he would get caught! With his confidence being this high, Njal felt that nothing could possibly go wrong at this point and that it was smooth sailing from here on until reaching the spaceport. He occasionally stole a glance at the other crew members, listening as they talked, not caring what they were talking about unless it involved the diagnostic panel, in which he would try to listen in as much as he could.\n\nMeanwhile...\n\nThe Krite was nearly finished with transporting every pill bottle that was in the crate, down to the last three bottles as it made it's way back to the room with a bottle securely placed in its teeth filled maw. With how much work it was doing, the Krite would be expecting to receive some kind of reward in the form of some edible meat, feeling this was the most work it ever had to do in its life as it rolled along through the ventilation, reaching the room and placing the bottle within it's cage. However, the Krite noticed how much space the pill bottles were taking up in it's cage, making it wonder if it will be able to fit in there once all the bottles were put in the cage. It was something its owner would have to figure out as the Krite rolled back into the open vent, making it's way back to Luck's room to retrieve the remaining bottles, moving fast through the vents with a strong determination to finish the job. Its owner always gave the Krite a good reward after every job it was given was carried out successfully, and that is what kept the Krite motivated to carry out its given task.", "username": "EternalDragon", "char_name": "Njal Ulrik" } ]

[ { "text": "Darien Ziplon\n\nDarien sat at one of the tables back to the mess hall doors because he had a modicum of trust on the ship. You can trust your shipmates, just as you trust your squad mates and company unit. If you can't trust the people you work with...well you're in the wrong unit. He noshed away at the food and listened to the banter. Pleasant news around. Anxi landed a way into Dock supplies by the sound if it, good on her. And a diagnostic panel had been found. And discussions were going on about if it could be installed.\n\nThe bobcat scoops up the last dregs on his plate and is just sopping up the last bits with a piece of bread when his comunit beeps and shakes. The older fellow riches for it, stopping brief to wipe his hands, then grabbing the com unit up and thumbing it on. His eyes narrowed pupils slitting. \"Whit th' hell? this is a auld contact.\" The bobcat read the message.\"Na wey, cannae be. This haes gotta be some kind o' peely-wally joke.\" He looked over at the captain \"Sur let's nae celebrate yit, cause a dinnae ken if this is true or nae, bit someone fae back in mah alphabet days says thay hae a surplus auto doc unit that thay kin secure fur me. Thay wantae catch up wi` ower in th' heich hive district. Something lik' that cuid be a gift 'n' mair. \"\n\nThe old bobcat looked at Evren \"If hee haw else ought tae gang ower 'n' titch base. If tis anither corpsman micht be able tae hampden roar some supplies if th' auto doc thing is a deid leid.\" He gave the young captain a smile, \"Sound a'richt tae ye laddie?\"\n\nThe bobcat is already rising to his feet to put his plate and utensils into the washer. The man is military in thr end so permission from his CO would be nice. Just trying to be polite in the end. And yes respectful too.", "username": "BigPapaBelial", "char_name": "Darien Ziplon" }, { "text": "Njal had paused in eating for just a moment when he heard the captain mention his name, briefly staring at Evren before shifting his gaze to Karma, not even realizing how much he was bending the utensil in his paw. This would end up being a huge problem for him to resolve. He had to sell that panel as soon as possible before Karma discovered it missing, that way if Evren were to have the crew search the Dauntless for it, the panel would no longer be in his room for the others to find and ultimately avoid being caught in the long run. Simple and easy, that's all it was. Bending his utensil back the way it was, Njal continued to eat the food remaining on his plate, forming a plan on what he would need to do once he was finished eating, hoping to execute his plan smoothly without any problems along the way. Although, with how shy and timid Karma already was, he could always intimidate her into keeping her mouth shut, a thought that he would keep on the back burner if it ever came to that.\n\nHell, if it did ever come to that, threatening to make her disappear might keep her quiet for months.\n\nBack in his room, the Krite had finally succeeded in transporting every pill bottle to its cage, in which the creature was also in its cage to rest despite the little bit of space it had. The Krite would wait until Njal returned to the room, sleeping until then as it felt it deserved to get some rest for its hard work, staying rolled up in a ball as it slept.", "username": "EternalDragon", "char_name": "Njal Ulrik" }, { "text": "\"They're put in during construction,\" Karma said, mind working frantically. \"You'd have to cut a hole in the hull just so we can float the whole thing in.\"\n\nBut.. it didn't actually need to be whole, did it? \n\n\"Yes, yes, we can do it once we launch!\" she beamed, glancing up at Evren. \"I'll just open up both diagnostic panels and replace the broken modules in Engineering with the ones inside the new one in the cargo hold!\" \n\nBig job suddenly made manageable. \n\n\"Uh, if that's okay with you, captain?\" she paused, staring back at him. Keep calm, don't crush anything. \"It would take a little longer, but we wouldn't have to try and move that whole thing through the passageways.\"", "username": "Expendable", "char_name": "Peppermint Karma Riddle" } ]

[ { "text": "The diagnostic panel was shot. Literally shot. Karma was half-afraid to ask what had happened to it? But until she had the time to repair it, she'd have to do a manual check. Fortunately for her, she had fourteen years experience running manual checks. \n\nEach ship they'd bring into the yard would have one critical component pulled to keep the prisoners from using it to escape - and the diagnostic panel would tell the prisoners exactly what component that was, so they weren't allowed to check it. They'd also drain most of the fuel, leaving just enough to get it into and out of the yard. Since her escape, she bet they now drained all the tanks before letting one of the mechanic prisoners in.\n\nBut it was a good thing the Dauntless was on the ground.\n\nThe auxiliary oxygen generator wouldn't turn on. \nThe APU's batteries were half dead. \nVarious components on the engine were wearing out and needed replacement, now.\nAnd if there was a fire, forget the fire suppression system.\n\nKarma sighed, wiping the grease off her hands. The Dauntless needed an overhaul. Overhauls need money for parts and labor. Judging by the state of the rest of the ship, money was in very short supply. She'd take the captain a list of what was needed, but she'd probably need to raid the local boneyard to find parts the ship could use.", "username": "Expendable", "char_name": "Peppermint Karma Riddle" }, { "text": "Darien Z, Doctor\n\nThe bobcat looked at the young captain, with a sigh he spoke, \"Ah jalouse, th' muckle quaistion is, dae yi'll waant a pleasant untruth, th' bare minimum truth, or th' solid truth?\" He looked at thr captain then the first mate, \"Ah hell 'n' bugger, th' truth is wee jimmies, wur horribly understocked. We hae th' bare minimum fur a five day trip we micht be able tae stretch that tae seven. Th' ainlie guid thing is, th' emergency help kits ur a' stocked bit main med bay is doon tae mah lest compression bandage. 'n' let's nae stairt in oan gear 'n' medicine. Ahh bugger me bit tis aff tae be ticht.\"\n\nThe crew would be treated to the opening moments of one of Darien's mad Scotsmans tirade. Suddenly he's just growling out what can only be called a near unintelligible string of curses and filth, interspersed with mentioning the bad breeding of various public figures and notaries. All while working up a froth and foam, pulling at his ears and headfur for a good six minutes, until just as suddenly he calms. Takes a deep breathe and looks at everyone, \"Pardon me, sorry fur that. A'm gaun back tae medical fur a wee bit.\"\n\nThe old feline would then make his way out.\n\nA short time later, the halls about medical and hibernation are filled with the jolly sound of the missing link between noise and sound. Or some would say. Standing just in the door to the med bay, kilt and tartan on, the doctor blows off some steam, the full stock of the med bay can wait a bit.\n\nhttps://youtube.com/watch?v=YbRjfLc4_ew&\n\nhttps://youtube.com/watch?v=BR-csWS1bcM&\n\nThe former Corp corpsman is as mortal as anyone really. Everyone needs to relax abit. Not saying the bobcat is stressed out or nothing. But not going to hurt anything. The strident notes of the bagpipe echo through the hibernation bay and back into medical. It's almost psychological warfare one could say.", "username": "BigPapaBelial", "char_name": "Darien Ziplon" } ]

[ { "text": "\"Oh, a diagnostic panel?\" the Orangutan smiles bemusedly. \"A... new one?\"\n\nWhere had the fox found a 'new' diagnostic panel for a ship over sixty years old?\n\n\"Uh, was this like still crated in some warehouse?\" Karma pressed, absently putting the cleaning cloth in the pocket of her coveralls as she went to sit down. \"I bet someone was happy to finally get rid of it, not like there's a lot of demand for sixty-year old tech. In the yards, if we had to work on one, we just refurbished it because of all the....\"\n\n\"Wait!\" she paused in the act of sitting down, looking over at the captain in a panic. \"You want me to swap out a Constellion-class diagnostic panel before we leave?!\" \n\nThe panel in Engineering was two meters tall and wide! She was looking at two days work, at least! Unless....\n\n\"Captain, is this like a universal diagnostic panel?\" Since nobody was making the old diagnostic panels anymore, someone had the bright idea of making these large computerized displays that ran an emulator that you just plugged in. And they were cheap. Well, cheap-ish.", "username": "Expendable", "char_name": "Peppermint Karma Riddle" }, { "text": "Evren noticed how Anxi giggled. He could not help it but found the little red panda had an attractive smile. However as captain, engaging in personal relationships with those who work under you was a no go. Or least rules against fraternization were something that was continually drilled into the fox at the Omnicore academy as such actions undermined unit cohesion, discipline and lead to commanding officers showing favoritism towards underlings. However he wasn't in Omnicore anymore and wasn't sure if such rules should still apply to his ship. This wasn't Omnicore and he would make damn sure that it would never turn into anything like them.\n\nEvren repressed such thoughts to the back of his mind as Karma had questions about the panel. The Orangutang looked rather startled by his suggestion to install the diagnostic panel before they would depart again. \"It's an original one. As new as you can get these days. It belonged to the spareparts stock of a small shipping company that went bankrupt last year. They flew a small fleet of Constellions, mostly between the Frontier and the Rim but lost business to more efficient ships. Most was already sold but there was not much interest in the diagnostic panel. I guess those things will just keep working until you put a few bullets in them.\"\n\nFor a moment he looked closely at Karma, wondering what part of the request had startled her. \"You think there isn't enough time to replace it before we depart? Would extra hands help? Perhaps Njal can help out. Considering the size and weight of that thing his strength might come in handy.\"\n\nThe fox took a bite of the food and noticed it was pretty tasty, not that his standards in food were particularly high. Anything that tasted better as his own cooking or field rations would get an easy pass. Luck's cooking was more than sufficient. However the droid also mentioned that his scheduled maintenance was coming up again. And with other required repairs and maintenance. Karma already had a lot on her plate.\"Hmm, perhaps doing the panel before departure is a bit much. Can we do it when flying, Karma?\"", "username": "Milkman", "char_name": "Evren Frost" }, { "text": "Darien Ziplon\n\nDarien sat at one of the tables back to the mess hall doors because he had a modicum of trust on the ship. You can trust your shipmates, just as you trust your squad mates and company unit. If you can't trust the people you work with...well you're in the wrong unit. He noshed away at the food and listened to the banter. Pleasant news around. Anxi landed a way into Dock supplies by the sound if it, good on her. And a diagnostic panel had been found. And discussions were going on about if it could be installed.\n\nThe bobcat scoops up the last dregs on his plate and is just sopping up the last bits with a piece of bread when his comunit beeps and shakes. The older fellow riches for it, stopping brief to wipe his hands, then grabbing the com unit up and thumbing it on. His eyes narrowed pupils slitting. \"Whit th' hell? this is a auld contact.\" The bobcat read the message.\"Na wey, cannae be. This haes gotta be some kind o' peely-wally joke.\" He looked over at the captain \"Sur let's nae celebrate yit, cause a dinnae ken if this is true or nae, bit someone fae back in mah alphabet days says thay hae a surplus auto doc unit that thay kin secure fur me. Thay wantae catch up wi` ower in th' heich hive district. Something lik' that cuid be a gift 'n' mair. \"\n\nThe old bobcat looked at Evren \"If hee haw else ought tae gang ower 'n' titch base. If tis anither corpsman micht be able tae hampden roar some supplies if th' auto doc thing is a deid leid.\" He gave the young captain a smile, \"Sound a'richt tae ye laddie?\"\n\nThe bobcat is already rising to his feet to put his plate and utensils into the washer. The man is military in thr end so permission from his CO would be nice. Just trying to be polite in the end. And yes respectful too.", "username": "BigPapaBelial", "char_name": "Darien Ziplon" } ]

[ { "text": "---\n\n\n\n\nThe dimly lit, dreary streets of Maysville were cold this time of year. Though the temperature was clearly below freezing, the only precipitation the town ever got was a murky rain. Your shoes squelched as the mud from the ground crashed with the pavement below.\n\nTen minutes ago, you woke up in the forest. The infamous Haunted Hoffmann Hills, you awoke in, though there were no hills at all. Maybe the townsfolk just wanted alliteration, who knows?\n\nThoughts ran through your head as you scanned the empty streets for people. Was I kidnapped? What did they want? Who were the other figures who woke up in the forest with me? \n\nYour group finally spots a house with a light on. Under normal circumstances, you'd find it suspicious that someone was awake at four in the morning, but now you were grateful for any sign of life.\n\n\n---", "username": "daredabble", "char_name": null }, { "text": "\"Oh, thank God!\" Simon muttered to himself as he upward with a sigh of relief. The initial adrenaline from the situation had worn off at this point, but Simon hurried toward the house with a renewed energy. \n\n\"I wonder who lives here,\" Simon thought to himself as he hopped onto the porch, \"I can't remember, right now.\" He came to the door and stretched his hand out to knock when he took notice of how dirty and ragged he was. He had felt dirty, but the little light the house gave off showed him how dirty he really was. \n\nBefore he knocked, he decided to remove his shoes and socks. He wriggled his toes as the freezing air stabbed at them, but it was nice to be free of those squelching shoes. Then, he smirked as he realized how silly it would be if someone were to see him outside right now.", "username": "CDT0925", "char_name": "Simon Manaen" } ]

[ { "text": "Thank god, no more voices. Cassandra pulled the headphones down around her neck as she walked along the road that was supposed to lead to her destination. She could not drive yet, so renting a car was not up for debate and hitchhiking was out of the question. The unwanted conversations she would hear would have been enough to drive her insane and forget about taking the bus. It was hard enough getting here on the plane she reluctantly had to take. It figures her first plane ride would come with a bad experience, if it were not for the headphones she bought, she did not know how she would have made it through.\n\nAlmost deaf from the music she had playing, but it helped. Even if it just muffled the voices she heard in her head, it was a welcome distraction from what she had been dealing with for the past few weeks. It was not all bad, she found a few groups to add to her list of musical interests. \n\nAt least it's not too far, she thought as she walked along the road as she took in the sights around her. The changing of the colors on the leaves reminded her of home and all the festivities that came along with the changing seasons. The sales of freshly baked pumpkin pies, the selling of pumpkins for carving, all the decorations people put on their houses, the smell of homemade cider, all came flooding back to her. The rush of nostalgia for a life she may never be able to go back to was enough to bring a few tears to her eyes.\n\nMost of all, she missed her family, especially her brother. Since she began this trip, she never stopped wondering how he got on without her. It was around this time of day she would go to pick him up from school and they would walk home together. She would get him a treat before they reached their house and they would talk all the way home. Pulling the picture out she brought with her as she walked along the road, she stared intensely at it all the while trying ignore the lump she had in her throat. Sorry kid, looks like you'll have to walk home without me, she thought to herself.\n\nDistracted, she almost walked passed her destination as she quickly snapped back to reality. She stopped in front of the driveway that seemingly lead to a run-down manor. She was met with the view dead trees and other deceased vegetation as she slowly strolled toward the manor. Halfway there, she could see the place she had been sent to had seen better days, oh, oh ho, perfect, this place is perfect, I've always wanted to be murdered in a place just like this. The entire place sent chills down her spine the closer she got and it did not help that it was taking what felt like hours to reach the place. Her fear would be somewhat quelled as she saw a few people standing outside. Please be normal people, please be normal people, she chanted to herself as she crossed her fingers and prayed.", "username": "Hyyde322", "char_name": "Cassandra Thompson" }, { "text": "The Return of Magic:Act 1 - An Intro\nScene two - The house beckons\n\nAlora's attention shifted from the house to a new, strange sensation behind her. \"What...\" Anora felt like someone had started standing over her, but the sensation was far away from her body. Her mind focused on this feeling as she tried to decipher what it was exactly. She could feel ridges overtop that dug deep into what felt like her body. \"One, no two? One again, and now three, four,\" she thought to herself as these sensations grew in number and strength. Alora closed her eyes as she focused her senses on this new one. \"Four, two, one, three,\" she began to count out the sensations in time. Each one would press down on her for a moment before pulling back up. After a delay, another sensation would appear in front of where the last one was. Before long, she realized that these pressure points traveled together in pairs.\n\nAfter a few more moments Alora began to recognize the rhythm of each motion. \"Are these...\" she paused as she focused on it further, \"Step, step,\" Alora muttered to herself, \"step, step.\" A second later, and with wide eyes, Alora blurted out \"shoes,\" as the realization set in that she was no longer alone. They turned around slowly, and in obvious pain, and her sight was greeted by three new, and perplexing faces. \n\n\"Hi.\" \n\nThe first, and closest, person she saw was this young man who looked to be no older than 18. His clothes appeared mismatched and strewn together with no thought for making it work as a whole. She shifted her focus and eyed up the second. This one was older than the first but appeared younger than Alora by a few years. His hair was a vivid blue with nary a stray of whatever his original hair color present. Alora figured this meant he was very good at doing it himself or had the money to have it done again regularly. There was something about his face that was so oddly familiar. Alora had seen that face before, but she did not know where. \n\nThe third face she saw was one that grabbed her attention more than the first two. She was also much younger than Alora, though she had a beautiful floral tattoo that grabbed Alora's focus. She had always wanted a tattoo, though she never had the time nor mental energy to commit to one. Alora's eyes rose up and rested on the eyes of this new woman, and lingered for what felt like an eternity before she realized she was making eye contact and pulled her focus away. As they did, her attention was brought back to the same crushing sensation as before and they winced in clear pain. She looked down at each individual's shoes and realized that they were in the exact spot she felt the sensation. \n\n\"Can you all get off the grass, it hurts.\" Alora pointed towards the grass, before motioning towards the gravel driveway nearby. \"I am Alora, I take it you all got the same letter from a benefactor?\"\n\n- - - - \n\nMuch like Alora, the rest of the group would also find that their powers were much more intense in this area. Cassandra may find it harder to push out the voices in her mind and control her illusions, Leon would find it harder to control the destination of his teleportation and may teleport much further than he could, and Elio's control over his chaos flame would diminish as the flame grew in intensity. As well, a presence inside the house beckons each one to head inside. This presence is unlike anything the group had experienced. It felt like something incredibly ancient was looking at each one and commanding them to obey its instruction.", "username": "MagratheanWhale", "char_name": "RESERVED FOR SIDE CHARACTERS" }, { "text": "Location: 666 Mystic Lane, North Reading, MA\nInteractions: Alora (@MagratheanWhale)\n\n\n---\n\n\nBGM: The Centennial Festival for Magical Girls (Touhou Koumakyou: Embodiment of Scarlet Devil)\n\n\n\nAs Leon approached the house, an overwhelming pressure caused a chill to run down his spine. It's as if an immense power was running through the area. In a more nerdy comparison, it was like facing a level 99 boss but you're level 1 using the basic equipment at least. Any false move could lead to his downfall, and not even his power would be able to save him. Whatever this presence was, there was absolutely no way to defeat it. The only way Leon could get through it was to await whatever it had to do. And that wasn't the only thing eating away at Leon's heart. \n\n(As if this oppressing presence wasn't problem enough, it feels like my powers are spiraling out of control. If I teleport right now, I could end up in another country. I don't think I'm supposed to actually feel this way, but I do. Whoever's emitting this aura is messing up with mine and this isn't good.) He thought.\n\n\n\nBut before he could continue thinking, a woman's voice ran through his ear. He decided to turn at her. Upon first glance, she did look rebellious. The type of woman who would definitely play punk rock (or even heavy metal) in showbiz. Intimidating, cold, fierce... aggressive. With the intonation of voice that perfectly suits the role of a villainess, the berserker types. Though before any sort of reaction, he just followed her instructions and stepped into the gravel driveway. It was smarter for him to just listen to her than to confront her.\n\n\"Sorry, I didn't mean to actually damage nature. In any case, I did receive the same letter as you described. And my name's Leon. It's a pleasure.\" He responded, introducing himself to Alora.\n\nIt seems like Alora didn't recognize Leon's identity as Alear, which was quite beneficial for him. Not only he didn't need to act like his idol self, but he could also chat with her, a stranger that never knew his other side and seemed uninterested in it. After all, not everyone was a fan of Alear Alstroemeria.", "username": "MagusDream", "char_name": null }, { "text": "Elio looked down. He did, in fact, have one foot on the grass.\n\"Sorry.\" He muttered quietly. He wasn't really sure if she heard it or not. \nHe wasn't sure if she'd really felt his foot either. Maybe she was just a weirdo - no shortage of those around here. At any rate, the people he was waiting for were here, presumeably.\n\nThe brown haired teen stayed right where he was, next to the car that wasn't his, which was hiding his back from people he didn't know. He was on his guard, as always, and for some reason he was getting somewhat nervous. A bead of sweat rolled down his back as he studied the group. Was it just him or was it getting warmer? Maybe the sunlight was getting to him.\n\nElio studied the people who came. He was pretty sure he'd seen the other guy on TV at some point, but the details eluded him. He watched a lot of TV (when he could watch one, anyway), but he mostly stuck to old action movies. He wasn't really sure where he came from, but it seemed to be right on the tip of his tongue, which bothered him immensely. In addition, his name was Leon, and that was close enough to his own name to make him annoyed. Elio quietly stared at him, as a grimace unknowingly formed on his face. The other 2 strangers made him wary, but this fashionable young man was even more dangerous.\n\n\"I'm Elio.\" He said quickly. \"Just Lio is fine, though.\"\nHe couldn't let him get too far ahead.", "username": "Spin The Wheel", "char_name": "Elio Abbelman" }, { "text": "{DELETED}", "username": "Hyyde322", "char_name": "Cassandra Thompson" }, { "text": "Cassandra had finally reached the area where the people she could only hope were not deranged psychopaths who lured people to this run-down manor to meet their demise. Much to her surprise, she stood corrected about her assumption when one introduced herself as Alora, but the introduction was cut short as the woman pointed towards the grass and asked her to get off of it. \n\n\n\nOh sorry, wasn't even paying attention, She quickly stepped onto the gravel driveway while not forgetting to unintentionally crush a few blades underneath her foot. Hoping she wouldn't notice the involuntary clumsy disregard for the other blades of grass, Cassandra turned her attention toward the woman again\n\nShe had to admit as far as first impressions went, she was a bit intimidated by Alora. She seemed to have a cold and aggressive demeanor about her. Her choice of clothing screamed rebel and her hairstyle was interesting, to say the least. The grass thing was a little strange, but if any of them were suffering from the same thing she was, strange was something to be expected.\n\nThis was someone her father would hit the roof if he knew Cassandra was even remotely associated with, not that she was one to just write this girl off without a chance. Cassandra could not help but notice the woman before her was gazing at her. Uh, Name's Cassandra or cassie, whichever one you prefer, she stuck her hand in the air as a nervous quick gesture of greeting. Yeah, he said he had answers to what's been going on, but after seeing this dump, I'm kind of wondering if we've been lured here to be murdered. She look over the manor one more time before looking back to the rest of the group that had arrived.\n\nOne had introduced himself as Leon. He looked familiar, but for the life of her, she could not put her finger on where she had seen him, television maybe? The other one who called himself Elio, well.....looked a little rough around the edges.", "username": "Hyyde322", "char_name": "Cassandra Thompson" } ]

[ { "text": "Elio looked down. He did, in fact, have one foot on the grass.\n\"Sorry.\" He muttered quietly. He wasn't really sure if she heard it or not. \nHe wasn't sure if she'd really felt his foot either. Maybe she was just a weirdo - no shortage of those around here. At any rate, the people he was waiting for were here, presumeably.\n\nThe brown haired teen stayed right where he was, next to the car that wasn't his, which was hiding his back from people he didn't know. He was on his guard, as always, and for some reason he was getting somewhat nervous. A bead of sweat rolled down his back as he studied the group. Was it just him or was it getting warmer? Maybe the sunlight was getting to him.\n\nElio studied the people who came. He was pretty sure he'd seen the other guy on TV at some point, but the details eluded him. He watched a lot of TV (when he could watch one, anyway), but he mostly stuck to old action movies. He wasn't really sure where he came from, but it seemed to be right on the tip of his tongue, which bothered him immensely. In addition, his name was Leon, and that was close enough to his own name to make him annoyed. Elio quietly stared at him, as a grimace unknowingly formed on his face. The other 2 strangers made him wary, but this fashionable young man was even more dangerous.\n\n\"I'm Elio.\" He said quickly. \"Just Lio is fine, though.\"\nHe couldn't let him get too far ahead.", "username": "Spin The Wheel", "char_name": "Elio Abbelman" }, { "text": "{DELETED}", "username": "Hyyde322", "char_name": "Cassandra Thompson" }, { "text": "Cassandra had finally reached the area where the people she could only hope were not deranged psychopaths who lured people to this run-down manor to meet their demise. Much to her surprise, she stood corrected about her assumption when one introduced herself as Alora, but the introduction was cut short as the woman pointed towards the grass and asked her to get off of it. \n\n\n\nOh sorry, wasn't even paying attention, She quickly stepped onto the gravel driveway while not forgetting to unintentionally crush a few blades underneath her foot. Hoping she wouldn't notice the involuntary clumsy disregard for the other blades of grass, Cassandra turned her attention toward the woman again\n\nShe had to admit as far as first impressions went, she was a bit intimidated by Alora. She seemed to have a cold and aggressive demeanor about her. Her choice of clothing screamed rebel and her hairstyle was interesting, to say the least. The grass thing was a little strange, but if any of them were suffering from the same thing she was, strange was something to be expected.\n\nThis was someone her father would hit the roof if he knew Cassandra was even remotely associated with, not that she was one to just write this girl off without a chance. Cassandra could not help but notice the woman before her was gazing at her. Uh, Name's Cassandra or cassie, whichever one you prefer, she stuck her hand in the air as a nervous quick gesture of greeting. Yeah, he said he had answers to what's been going on, but after seeing this dump, I'm kind of wondering if we've been lured here to be murdered. She look over the manor one more time before looking back to the rest of the group that had arrived.\n\nOne had introduced himself as Leon. He looked familiar, but for the life of her, she could not put her finger on where she had seen him, television maybe? The other one who called himself Elio, well.....looked a little rough around the edges.", "username": "Hyyde322", "char_name": "Cassandra Thompson" }, { "text": "The Return of Magic:Act 1 - An Intro\nScene three- The house beckons\n\n\"Sorry, I didn't mean to actually damage nature. In any case, I did receive the same letter as you described. And my name's Leon. It's a pleasure.\"\n\n\"Leon,\" Alora thought to herself, \"that is not the name I thought I would hear.\" Alora truthfully did not expect to hear any name in particular, she however expected to get one that helped her figure out who he was. She gave the mystery man a simple nod in acknowledgement.\n\n\"I'm Elio. Just Lio is fine, though.\"\n\n\"Lio, it's a pleasure to meet you.\"\n\n\"Uh, Name's Cassandra or cassie, whichever one you prefer. Yeah, he said he had answers to what's been going on, but after seeing this dump, I'm kind of wondering if we've been lured here to be murdered\"\n\nAlora let out a laugh at Cassie's response. \"Well, if they did want to murder us they chose an amazing place to do it,\" Alora paused as she took in the visage of the house, \"the internet would love a murder mystery set in such a place.\" Alora looked over the group again person by person. \"Besides, if someone did want to kill us it wouldn't make sense for them to bring us all together as I assume you all ha-\" Alora paused as she realized the words he was about to say aloud to this group of strangers. \"Oh, this is insane. This is the moment where I will realize just how crazy I am. Like who actually believes in magic?\" As she became trapped in her thoughts her breathing once again became shallow and fast paced. Alora would not let herself be trapped in these thoughts for long, and she broke back to the present as she gulped in a deep breath and exhaled equally hard. Her eyes darted to the ground and shifted for a second until she saw a patch of nearly dead dandelions at her feet.\n\n\"I assume you all have some form of magic,\" Alora said as she squatted down and placed her hand on the ground next to the dandelions. She took in a deep breath before she conjured forth her magic. In an instant the dandelions became more lifelike in both color and appearance. In an instant, the dandelion was brought to a bloom as the yellow flower erupted forth. \"I can control plants, and nature, I guess? I can also feel what the plants feel hence why… your footsteps hurt.\" As Alora pulled her magic back she looked up from the ground and towards the group. \"A month ago I developed it. Thought I was going crazy at first. One minute the world made more sense, you know? The next minute I can feel the gust of wind on each blade of grass and it's-\" Alora exhaled as she focused her breathing once again, \"so exhausting.\"\n \n\"What about you all? What fun parlor tricks brought you here?\"\n\nBehind her the house groaned as a strong wind blasted across it's broken visage. The wind would flow down and crash across the group bringing an icy chill with it. The group would feel the wind ebb and flow across the group reminding them that the seasons marched forward regardless of their new found discoveries. Something would feel off about this wind, and each remember of the group would feel an unnatural chill fall down their spine.", "username": "MagratheanWhale", "char_name": "RESERVED FOR SIDE CHARACTERS" } ]

[ { "text": "{DELETED}", "username": "Hyyde322", "char_name": "Cassandra Thompson" }, { "text": "Cassandra had finally reached the area where the people she could only hope were not deranged psychopaths who lured people to this run-down manor to meet their demise. Much to her surprise, she stood corrected about her assumption when one introduced herself as Alora, but the introduction was cut short as the woman pointed towards the grass and asked her to get off of it. \n\n\n\nOh sorry, wasn't even paying attention, She quickly stepped onto the gravel driveway while not forgetting to unintentionally crush a few blades underneath her foot. Hoping she wouldn't notice the involuntary clumsy disregard for the other blades of grass, Cassandra turned her attention toward the woman again\n\nShe had to admit as far as first impressions went, she was a bit intimidated by Alora. She seemed to have a cold and aggressive demeanor about her. Her choice of clothing screamed rebel and her hairstyle was interesting, to say the least. The grass thing was a little strange, but if any of them were suffering from the same thing she was, strange was something to be expected.\n\nThis was someone her father would hit the roof if he knew Cassandra was even remotely associated with, not that she was one to just write this girl off without a chance. Cassandra could not help but notice the woman before her was gazing at her. Uh, Name's Cassandra or cassie, whichever one you prefer, she stuck her hand in the air as a nervous quick gesture of greeting. Yeah, he said he had answers to what's been going on, but after seeing this dump, I'm kind of wondering if we've been lured here to be murdered. She look over the manor one more time before looking back to the rest of the group that had arrived.\n\nOne had introduced himself as Leon. He looked familiar, but for the life of her, she could not put her finger on where she had seen him, television maybe? The other one who called himself Elio, well.....looked a little rough around the edges.", "username": "Hyyde322", "char_name": "Cassandra Thompson" }, { "text": "The Return of Magic:Act 1 - An Intro\nScene three- The house beckons\n\n\"Sorry, I didn't mean to actually damage nature. In any case, I did receive the same letter as you described. And my name's Leon. It's a pleasure.\"\n\n\"Leon,\" Alora thought to herself, \"that is not the name I thought I would hear.\" Alora truthfully did not expect to hear any name in particular, she however expected to get one that helped her figure out who he was. She gave the mystery man a simple nod in acknowledgement.\n\n\"I'm Elio. Just Lio is fine, though.\"\n\n\"Lio, it's a pleasure to meet you.\"\n\n\"Uh, Name's Cassandra or cassie, whichever one you prefer. Yeah, he said he had answers to what's been going on, but after seeing this dump, I'm kind of wondering if we've been lured here to be murdered\"\n\nAlora let out a laugh at Cassie's response. \"Well, if they did want to murder us they chose an amazing place to do it,\" Alora paused as she took in the visage of the house, \"the internet would love a murder mystery set in such a place.\" Alora looked over the group again person by person. \"Besides, if someone did want to kill us it wouldn't make sense for them to bring us all together as I assume you all ha-\" Alora paused as she realized the words he was about to say aloud to this group of strangers. \"Oh, this is insane. This is the moment where I will realize just how crazy I am. Like who actually believes in magic?\" As she became trapped in her thoughts her breathing once again became shallow and fast paced. Alora would not let herself be trapped in these thoughts for long, and she broke back to the present as she gulped in a deep breath and exhaled equally hard. Her eyes darted to the ground and shifted for a second until she saw a patch of nearly dead dandelions at her feet.\n\n\"I assume you all have some form of magic,\" Alora said as she squatted down and placed her hand on the ground next to the dandelions. She took in a deep breath before she conjured forth her magic. In an instant the dandelions became more lifelike in both color and appearance. In an instant, the dandelion was brought to a bloom as the yellow flower erupted forth. \"I can control plants, and nature, I guess? I can also feel what the plants feel hence why… your footsteps hurt.\" As Alora pulled her magic back she looked up from the ground and towards the group. \"A month ago I developed it. Thought I was going crazy at first. One minute the world made more sense, you know? The next minute I can feel the gust of wind on each blade of grass and it's-\" Alora exhaled as she focused her breathing once again, \"so exhausting.\"\n \n\"What about you all? What fun parlor tricks brought you here?\"\n\nBehind her the house groaned as a strong wind blasted across it's broken visage. The wind would flow down and crash across the group bringing an icy chill with it. The group would feel the wind ebb and flow across the group reminding them that the seasons marched forward regardless of their new found discoveries. Something would feel off about this wind, and each remember of the group would feel an unnatural chill fall down their spine.", "username": "MagratheanWhale", "char_name": "RESERVED FOR SIDE CHARACTERS" }, { "text": "Elio felt the burn in his body. He considered letting it out, letting it breathe. It would be easy, effortless even. All he had to was let it flow, follow the channels, and project it out of his open palms... But he quickly crushed his desires into his fist. It had taken him some time to arrive at this mansion, and for a good portion of that, he had been walking. With nothing better to do, he had practised his new 'ability'. He wanted to know what it was, how it worked. He wanted to control it, so that he wouldn't burn anymore of his belongings. His progress was... disappointing.\n\nThe chief issue was its frustrating inconsistency. Sometimes, things would go fine. He would think of a form for it, and it would come out more less like he wanted it too. As for every other time, well. Elio had mostly been travelling in the wilderness with no one around, and that had proven to be a wise decision. His parents' book had helped, or maybe it hadn't. Sometimes, before he released the energy, he could feel whether it would be good or bad for him. He still didn't know how it would end up, and it didn't work all the time, but sometimes he would have a bad feeling, and every time he released his magic with that bad feeling, bad things happened. A pretty clear and obvious association, but he couldn't help but be frustrated at the vagueness of it all. How much of it was because of the book, and how much of it was his own intuition?\n\n\"Do you think this is the time for that?\" Elio asked, turning his head to scan the surroundings. \"It feels a bit... ominous around here.\"\nOminous, that was a good word for it. Whether it was the chill wind blowing in, or the feeling of being watched from the windows, something felt off. He had a pretty good instinct about these kinds of things, but nothing looked out of place. Was it just him being nervous from meeting with strangers? Was it because his nerves had been worn down by the journey? Or could it have been some magical sense he had been newly awoken to?\n\nWhatever it was, he would probably only find out after it happened. That was how things usually ended up for Elio.", "username": "Spin The Wheel", "char_name": "Elio Abbelman" } ]

[ { "text": "Maxima\n\nSynthetic fingers carried a finely polished leaf spring, gently guiding it home amidst a beautifully oiled piece of machinery. It was the last part to replace for the restoration of an old but still reliable pistol - Old enough to be more of a collector piece than actually used for its original purpose, but it could still get the job done, obviously. \n\nUntil something rocked the ship, forcing Maxima's hand forward. The spring was bent from the force, and the finish marred by Maxima's armored nails. Her eyes narrowed in frustration. She gently set down the disassembled pistol, her expression the only thing betraying her anger. \"Unforgivable.\"\n\nMaxima only grabbed two things from her room: Her beloved machine gun and a recent acquisition as a sidearm. Truth be told, the sidearm had no place being used by any normal person: It was designed as an attempt to have the power of a shotgun in the small package of a pistol... With catastrophic results in regard to human wrists. Needless to say, Maxima had wanted an excuse to use it, and scattering little holes in spacesuits seemed like a good use case.\n\nShe wasted no time in directing herself to the nearest airlock. Maxima had a bit of a disdain for the vacuum of space - without sound, there was no music, and what was the point? She would simply have to captivate her audience through choreography, instead. Luckily for everyone else, she could still transmit her lovely voice through local communications channels.\n\n\"There's never a bad time for a guerilla live show, right? Luckily you've-\" Maxima shouldered her automatic rifle. \"Got.\" She depressurized the airlock. \"Me~!\" She vaulted into the fray as she delivered her last line, her entire body glowing as her shield emitters projected a bright yellow shield of hard light.\n\nA textbook start to a performance: The arrival of the star. Perhaps literally, in this case, as Maxima was a glowing ball of yellow light peeking out from the hull of the ship - she could be mistaken for a sunrise, in her opinion. Maxima's eyes narrowed as she snapped her aim to the nearest pirate, her expression of cheer twisting somewhat with the sudden focus of aiming. Then, of course, the music started.\n\nTo Maxima, it was music - Her machine gun was intimately linked to her, as a purpose-designed peripheral. If anything, it was just as much a part of her as a limb. Each time it fired, she received information from her link - weapon temperature, remaining ammo, trajectory estimations... It all came to her as a sixth sense. It was the gun's music - there was no other way she could manage to describe it.\n\nPerhaps the artistry was lost on the enemy she had in her sight: They of course could not hear the music, just feel the hail of bullets that rained upon them. After what they did to her most recent restoration project... That was the least they deserved. It was a simple fact that a star like Maxima would have pushy fans, but luckily she knew how to deal with them. She tracked to the next pirate, but kept aware of the others in case she needed to move. Her shields would likely hold against anything they had, but what was music without dance? She had an image to uphold.\n\n\"The performance for these pushy fans who ruined my pistol restoration project is on! Any aboard the Guernica who want to watch the lights are welcome~!\" Maxima kept this comm chatter to the crew only.", "username": "Crowvette", "char_name": "Maxima" }, { "text": "Alexander Tain\n\nAlexander, before all the commotion, started with pirates and cables. He was busy with what he did in his spare time. Working at his personal computer trying to put Eva back together. He has been making progress lately, but it is still a laborious procedure. Most would abandon it but not Alex. Not him. All he needs is time, or so he says. Either way, it is a careful procedure as he does not want the pieces of the difficult puzzle that is Eva to be even more fragmented or worse. \n\nThen the sudden rocking of the ship messed with him and almost caused him to make a mistake that would have set him back considerably. Fear gripped him that he almost made a costly mistake, but that fear quickly turned to anger. \"Those motherf#####s, why can't they just leave people alone?\" Fricking pirates, he said bitterly. Next, Alexander paused what he was doing and locked down his computer. So no one, not even the crew, could access it. Then he got up and went to get his plasma pistol but felt the urge to stop. If he died, who would put Eva back together? But Alexander brushes that fear aside. He is not a coward, but the others may be able to handle it. \n\nEither way, he still picked up his pistol and made sure it worked. Once he was satisfied, Alexander headed to the bridge and went to check the damage so far. Accessing a console and while the shields were down, the hull was still fine. Well, the best that a ship that ran on duck tape and hope could handle. Getting on his comms, \"Captain, do you need more backup outside? I am going to try and get shields back otherwise.\" Only the crew could hear this.", "username": "Theyra", "char_name": "Alexander Tain Alex, Tech" } ]

[ { "text": "Kelan & Echo\n\n\n\n---\n\n\n\n\"I am insisting that this is a terrible idea,\" an electronic voice spoke from a hulking, mechanical exo-suit as it stomped down the halls of the Guernica, following the man known as Kelan. \n\n\"It's a great idea!\" Kelan insisted. It was so rare for things to get to this point. Normally they got away before anyone could begin boarding maneuvers. He proceeded to open a comm-channel to Kian. \"Hey, boss. How much you reckon one o' these salvage ships would fetch on the used market?\"\n\n\"Excuse me,\" Echo spoke, joining in on the call. \"Whatever idea Kelan is about to propose, please reject it summarily.\" Echo then stepped in front of Kelan to halt him. \"The enemy ships may have relatively weak weapons, but this suit is not rated for them.\"\n\n\"Sure it is!\"\n\n\"Correction. This suit is no longer rated for them.\"\n\n\"Aw, relax. They'll never see us coming to begin with. 'Sides, their ships aren't rated for us either.\" Kelan once more opened the comms. \"Just say the word and I'll bring us back a shiny, new toy. Well, less shiny when I'm through with it, but you get the idea.\"\n\nWith that, Kelan ignored Echo's continued protests and cracked open the exo-suit so he could climb in. Now assuming control of the suit, Echo could no longer stop Kelan from heading to the nearest exit. He waited by the exit for Kian's response. Kelan could instead just clear the enemy off the hull, but then they'd know he was there and those little attack ships might actually just bullseye him if he tried anything too foolhardy. \n\nHowever, he wasn't the only warrior on board. He was confident the others could deal with the boarders while he went and... returned the favor.\n\n\"Up to you, boss-man. Tell me where you want me,\" he said, his hand hovering over the door-control.", "username": "KillamriX88", "char_name": "Echo - 'Devil'" }, { "text": "Sawyer hunched over the desk in their quarters, pince-nez glasses clinging to dear life on the end of their nose. On top of the flat surface sat their hololight pad. They waved their hand over it, flipping forward a few images. They then referenced something written on actual paper in a—what was it called—leather-bound book. They hated touching it. It felt disgusting under their digits. Every time they pressed down on the pages to flatten them, they gagged a bit. They swallowed down the bile in the back of their throat as they went back to hololight pad. They compared it to a glass-tech board that they'd hung on the wall. It was pretty much the equivalent of a space-age markerboard except it took their scribbles and turned it into legible words. It also translated it, if that needed to happen as well. They pulled out their pulsing multi-light pen and tapped the end until they got to a fluorescent purple. They stood and drew a line between two articles. \n\n\"Well, Barty, touching that paper was worth it. I finally found a solid correlation between an old Imperial Law and the current ban on certain 'fair trade' music.\" The robot cat, despite being made entirely of metal, paused in the licking of her stomach to eye Sawyer. She let out a pixelated yowl before returning to bathing her non-existent fur. The lawyer didn't care, though. They instead turned back to the desk, took a seat again, and gingerly closed the book. It shut with a trembling grunt. \"This thing is as old as Imperial rhetoric. One hard sneeze and it'll lose its shit.\" They chuckled at their joke, the scraping of Bartholomew's metal tongue on her metal body filled the room.\n\nIt was about that time the ship shifted hard, and Sawyer fell face-first into their desk. The hololight pad shot off in a different direction, pinging against the wall and sliding across the floor. The glass-tech board was fine, having weathered Sawyer banging it across every archway to get it in their quarters. Bartholomew engaged her magnetic feet to stay in place like real cats did—Sawyer assumed. Most everything could be salvaged and rearranged, even the book. It slid off the table before thudding heavily on the ground. It was entirely intact. Sawyer exhaled, leaning down to grab it. Another twist of the ship, and it collided with Sawyer's face, erupting into thousands of sheets of loose leaf paper—covering them in that horrid sensation. \n\nSawyer held back the vomit in their throat but knew it would be only a matter of time until their last dinner released itself from one of their stomachs. So, they bolted into the hallway, pages of the book coming after them like a trail of dust. They ran a hand over their shoulders and down their front, their long tail whipping to and fro, shaking the papers around with even more ferocity. They gritted their sharp teeth and oriented themselves toward the helm of the Guernica. Bartholomew trailed after them, having used her magnetic feet to scale the walls and follow them on the ceiling. \n\nThey burst into the helm of the ship, not knowing if their pilot was there or not but not caring. If they were yelling at no one, they could just repeat it later. For now, they had to let something out. \"I swear to the space dust and the moons abound that you cannot pilot this damn rust bucket.\" They threw their hands up, their perfectly tailored gold and black suit catching the light and scattering it around in a prismatic fashion. Why they were wearing that to research a case would baffle anyone. They looked more like they were about to attend a business meeting or a very corporate ball. \"Are you driving it with your ass?\"\n\n𝙏𝘼𝙂(𝙎) @TGM (If Ellisia is there)\n𝙇𝙊𝘾𝘼𝙏𝙄𝙊𝙉 The Helm", "username": "psych0pomp", "char_name": "Sohsa'no'wyaer \"Sawyer\" Halycon-Sub-Prime, 24th in line for High Emperor" } ]

[ { "text": "Sawyer hunched over the desk in their quarters, pince-nez glasses clinging to dear life on the end of their nose. On top of the flat surface sat their hololight pad. They waved their hand over it, flipping forward a few images. They then referenced something written on actual paper in a—what was it called—leather-bound book. They hated touching it. It felt disgusting under their digits. Every time they pressed down on the pages to flatten them, they gagged a bit. They swallowed down the bile in the back of their throat as they went back to hololight pad. They compared it to a glass-tech board that they'd hung on the wall. It was pretty much the equivalent of a space-age markerboard except it took their scribbles and turned it into legible words. It also translated it, if that needed to happen as well. They pulled out their pulsing multi-light pen and tapped the end until they got to a fluorescent purple. They stood and drew a line between two articles. \n\n\"Well, Barty, touching that paper was worth it. I finally found a solid correlation between an old Imperial Law and the current ban on certain 'fair trade' music.\" The robot cat, despite being made entirely of metal, paused in the licking of her stomach to eye Sawyer. She let out a pixelated yowl before returning to bathing her non-existent fur. The lawyer didn't care, though. They instead turned back to the desk, took a seat again, and gingerly closed the book. It shut with a trembling grunt. \"This thing is as old as Imperial rhetoric. One hard sneeze and it'll lose its shit.\" They chuckled at their joke, the scraping of Bartholomew's metal tongue on her metal body filled the room.\n\nIt was about that time the ship shifted hard, and Sawyer fell face-first into their desk. The hololight pad shot off in a different direction, pinging against the wall and sliding across the floor. The glass-tech board was fine, having weathered Sawyer banging it across every archway to get it in their quarters. Bartholomew engaged her magnetic feet to stay in place like real cats did—Sawyer assumed. Most everything could be salvaged and rearranged, even the book. It slid off the table before thudding heavily on the ground. It was entirely intact. Sawyer exhaled, leaning down to grab it. Another twist of the ship, and it collided with Sawyer's face, erupting into thousands of sheets of loose leaf paper—covering them in that horrid sensation. \n\nSawyer held back the vomit in their throat but knew it would be only a matter of time until their last dinner released itself from one of their stomachs. So, they bolted into the hallway, pages of the book coming after them like a trail of dust. They ran a hand over their shoulders and down their front, their long tail whipping to and fro, shaking the papers around with even more ferocity. They gritted their sharp teeth and oriented themselves toward the helm of the Guernica. Bartholomew trailed after them, having used her magnetic feet to scale the walls and follow them on the ceiling. \n\nThey burst into the helm of the ship, not knowing if their pilot was there or not but not caring. If they were yelling at no one, they could just repeat it later. For now, they had to let something out. \"I swear to the space dust and the moons abound that you cannot pilot this damn rust bucket.\" They threw their hands up, their perfectly tailored gold and black suit catching the light and scattering it around in a prismatic fashion. Why they were wearing that to research a case would baffle anyone. They looked more like they were about to attend a business meeting or a very corporate ball. \"Are you driving it with your ass?\"\n\n𝙏𝘼𝙂(𝙎) @TGM (If Ellisia is there)\n𝙇𝙊𝘾𝘼𝙏𝙄𝙊𝙉 The Helm", "username": "psych0pomp", "char_name": "Sohsa'no'wyaer \"Sawyer\" Halycon-Sub-Prime, 24th in line for High Emperor" }, { "text": "Maxima\n\nSynthetic fingers carried a finely polished leaf spring, gently guiding it home amidst a beautifully oiled piece of machinery. It was the last part to replace for the restoration of an old but still reliable pistol - Old enough to be more of a collector piece than actually used for its original purpose, but it could still get the job done, obviously. \n\nUntil something rocked the ship, forcing Maxima's hand forward. The spring was bent from the force, and the finish marred by Maxima's armored nails. Her eyes narrowed in frustration. She gently set down the disassembled pistol, her expression the only thing betraying her anger. \"Unforgivable.\"\n\nMaxima only grabbed two things from her room: Her beloved machine gun and a recent acquisition as a sidearm. Truth be told, the sidearm had no place being used by any normal person: It was designed as an attempt to have the power of a shotgun in the small package of a pistol... With catastrophic results in regard to human wrists. Needless to say, Maxima had wanted an excuse to use it, and scattering little holes in spacesuits seemed like a good use case.\n\nShe wasted no time in directing herself to the nearest airlock. Maxima had a bit of a disdain for the vacuum of space - without sound, there was no music, and what was the point? She would simply have to captivate her audience through choreography, instead. Luckily for everyone else, she could still transmit her lovely voice through local communications channels.\n\n\"There's never a bad time for a guerilla live show, right? Luckily you've-\" Maxima shouldered her automatic rifle. \"Got.\" She depressurized the airlock. \"Me~!\" She vaulted into the fray as she delivered her last line, her entire body glowing as her shield emitters projected a bright yellow shield of hard light.\n\nA textbook start to a performance: The arrival of the star. Perhaps literally, in this case, as Maxima was a glowing ball of yellow light peeking out from the hull of the ship - she could be mistaken for a sunrise, in her opinion. Maxima's eyes narrowed as she snapped her aim to the nearest pirate, her expression of cheer twisting somewhat with the sudden focus of aiming. Then, of course, the music started.\n\nTo Maxima, it was music - Her machine gun was intimately linked to her, as a purpose-designed peripheral. If anything, it was just as much a part of her as a limb. Each time it fired, she received information from her link - weapon temperature, remaining ammo, trajectory estimations... It all came to her as a sixth sense. It was the gun's music - there was no other way she could manage to describe it.\n\nPerhaps the artistry was lost on the enemy she had in her sight: They of course could not hear the music, just feel the hail of bullets that rained upon them. After what they did to her most recent restoration project... That was the least they deserved. It was a simple fact that a star like Maxima would have pushy fans, but luckily she knew how to deal with them. She tracked to the next pirate, but kept aware of the others in case she needed to move. Her shields would likely hold against anything they had, but what was music without dance? She had an image to uphold.\n\n\"The performance for these pushy fans who ruined my pistol restoration project is on! Any aboard the Guernica who want to watch the lights are welcome~!\" Maxima kept this comm chatter to the crew only.", "username": "Crowvette", "char_name": "Maxima" } ]

[ { "text": "---\n\nFor a place once filled with laughter and joy, the boardwalk had been eerily silent throughout the morning. No screeching birds nor the moans of a walking corpse dared break the silence that befell the beachside properties. Were it any other day, Hazuki would've been unerved by the deafening quiet in the streets a few floors down from the apartments the group she was with had sheltered in. But now, she simply just appreciated the breather; to not hear the groans of the dead eager to rip her apart. \n\nHazuki leaned against a balcony railing, watching the sun rise from the eastern coast beyond the boardwalk—something she rarely was able to do these days. A part of her yearned for a hot cup of coffee, but it seemed such a luxury had become hard to come by in the apocalypse. A shame, she thought. It would've added the perfect touch to her rare peaceful morning. Perhaps there was still some in the nearby hotel lobbies, or maybe somewhere in the businesses or offices they had yet to check for supplies. Staying energized when the dead are trying their damnedest to eat you was important, after all.\n\nBANG! BANG BANG!\n\nSeemingly on queue, however, the calm stillness suddenly broke, shattering her carefree sunrise dreams and shocking Hazuki back into real life. The thunderous sound of gunfire erupted throughout the beachside streets, only to be quickly followed by shouting and pained screams for help. Someone had foolishly riled up the dead from their slumber, and by the sound of it, was paying the price for their actions.\n\n\"Please, stop...\" \n\nHazuki mumbled, begging the dead to stop their murderous rampage as she slid down against the balcony wall. She knew full well that her prayers would fall on the deaf ears of the dead, yet even then Hazuki yearned to not be a witness to another person being cannibalized by the undead. \n\n\"Just stop...\"", "username": "Keepers", "char_name": "Hazuki Ishiwata" }, { "text": "Miguel Trejo\n\nMiguel was crouching and moving between the aisle of the grocery store. He was there to try and salvage some canned food. There was not a lot of fresh food that was being produced ever since the start of the infection. Although he had seen small communities that have been starting to farm produce and animal products. There were a few shamblers walking around the grocery store. So Miguel was keeping low towards the ground so he would not be spotted. Stopped at the canned food and soup aisle. Grabbing as many cans as he could and stuffed them into his backpack. \n\nHis focus was broken when he heard a noise down the aisle. His head turned to his left to see a zombie at the end. It didn't seem to notice him initially, but it slowly started coming toward Miguel. Letting out a low rumbling groan from its mouth. Quickly stood up on his feet and started running towards the entrance. Not noticing the shambler that was standing a few feet from where he was running. He could feel it gripping his shoulder. He had to act quickly or he would get bitten. Using one hand to hold push the zombie away, while reaching for his trench knife. \n\nThe zombie kept trying to bite him, but Miguel quickly stabbed the creature in the head with his knife. The undead fell to the side with a soft thud. Miguel pulled out the trench knife, looking saddened that he had taken another life. Even though they are undead and want to kill him, he felt no pleasure in killing them. Saying a quick prayer for the fallen person before heading out. The next location he plans on going to is the hardware store. He needed to pick up some more tools and weapons. \n\nThere was more of the undead outside, so he would have to be careful when heading towards the hardware store. But Miguel was more than prepared for the hardships of the apocalypse.", "username": "Eviledd1984", "char_name": "Miguel Trejo" }, { "text": "Issac bin Kamaal\n\n\"Poor guy,\" Issac said out of pity for the dead body that was in front of him on a messy bed. This guy had a good setup, a room on the third floor of a hotel, and for the most part, the hotel was clear of undead. Lucky for this guy and Issac did notice what looked like a makeshift firepit with some bodies in it near the entrance to the hotel. Must have been this guy's work and a good feat to last this long. \n\nBut unlucky for this man, as Issac can clearly see, what looked like a bite mark on the man's arm and a bullet hole in his head. He could not find a gun some he figured that he was with someone and they must have done it after the man got bitten. Or someone had already looted this place after the fact. It must have been some time ago since Issac could not find any sign of another person in this hotel, so they must have left a while ago. Either way, there might still be something here, even if he felt bad about looting fellow survivors. Even if they are dead but, he needs to survive, and maybe there is something here that these people missed or left behind. \n\nSo Issac went about searching the room for anything of value, and after some time. He found something good, food. In the bottom of a box of opened cans, there were still two unopened cans, and Issac checked if they were still good, just in case. They were, so he put them in his backpack and continued his search. In the end, he found nothing else but some coffee packets. Whoever lived here or been here picked the place clean and apparently did not like coffee. At least they missed the two cans. \n\nSo after one last search, Issac called it quits and went about leaving the hotel. He did not find much, but he did find something to keep the group going. Now Issac carefully made his way out of the hotel and to the city proper. Though the hotel was clear of undead, the city was not. Luck was both on and not on his side, especially for that dead man he found. Time to see if his second stop will bear fruit, and Issac went out into the city. He has lasted this long, and he is keen on keeping it that way. More so now, after finding this new group and time to see if this trip is worth it or not.", "username": "Theyra", "char_name": "Issac bin Kamaal" } ]

[ { "text": "---\n\nFor a place once filled with laughter and joy, the boardwalk had been eerily silent throughout the morning. No screeching birds nor the moans of a walking corpse dared break the silence that befell the beachside properties. Were it any other day, Hazuki would've been unerved by the deafening quiet in the streets a few floors down from the apartments the group she was with had sheltered in. But now, she simply just appreciated the breather; to not hear the groans of the dead eager to rip her apart. \n\nHazuki leaned against a balcony railing, watching the sun rise from the eastern coast beyond the boardwalk—something she rarely was able to do these days. A part of her yearned for a hot cup of coffee, but it seemed such a luxury had become hard to come by in the apocalypse. A shame, she thought. It would've added the perfect touch to her rare peaceful morning. Perhaps there was still some in the nearby hotel lobbies, or maybe somewhere in the businesses or offices they had yet to check for supplies. Staying energized when the dead are trying their damnedest to eat you was important, after all.\n\nBANG! BANG BANG!\n\nSeemingly on queue, however, the calm stillness suddenly broke, shattering her carefree sunrise dreams and shocking Hazuki back into real life. The thunderous sound of gunfire erupted throughout the beachside streets, only to be quickly followed by shouting and pained screams for help. Someone had foolishly riled up the dead from their slumber, and by the sound of it, was paying the price for their actions.\n\n\"Please, stop...\" \n\nHazuki mumbled, begging the dead to stop their murderous rampage as she slid down against the balcony wall. She knew full well that her prayers would fall on the deaf ears of the dead, yet even then Hazuki yearned to not be a witness to another person being cannibalized by the undead. \n\n\"Just stop...\"", "username": "Keepers", "char_name": "Hazuki Ishiwata" }, { "text": "Miguel Trejo\n\nMiguel was crouching and moving between the aisle of the grocery store. He was there to try and salvage some canned food. There was not a lot of fresh food that was being produced ever since the start of the infection. Although he had seen small communities that have been starting to farm produce and animal products. There were a few shamblers walking around the grocery store. So Miguel was keeping low towards the ground so he would not be spotted. Stopped at the canned food and soup aisle. Grabbing as many cans as he could and stuffed them into his backpack. \n\nHis focus was broken when he heard a noise down the aisle. His head turned to his left to see a zombie at the end. It didn't seem to notice him initially, but it slowly started coming toward Miguel. Letting out a low rumbling groan from its mouth. Quickly stood up on his feet and started running towards the entrance. Not noticing the shambler that was standing a few feet from where he was running. He could feel it gripping his shoulder. He had to act quickly or he would get bitten. Using one hand to hold push the zombie away, while reaching for his trench knife. \n\nThe zombie kept trying to bite him, but Miguel quickly stabbed the creature in the head with his knife. The undead fell to the side with a soft thud. Miguel pulled out the trench knife, looking saddened that he had taken another life. Even though they are undead and want to kill him, he felt no pleasure in killing them. Saying a quick prayer for the fallen person before heading out. The next location he plans on going to is the hardware store. He needed to pick up some more tools and weapons. \n\nThere was more of the undead outside, so he would have to be careful when heading towards the hardware store. But Miguel was more than prepared for the hardships of the apocalypse.", "username": "Eviledd1984", "char_name": "Miguel Trejo" } ]

[ { "text": "This is all worth it just to witness this little scene, Donovan thought. Watching the Dionne-Luscin child speak her thoughts on the mission was endlessly entertaining in the best way. He was pleased to see her confidence and agreed with her logic even if he was still fascinated with the fact that she was right in front of him. Sending the heir to the rebellion on a rescue mission spoke volumes. He almost wished he could have anticipated this, but even he never would have guessed that their leader would let her only daughter out of safety, let alone sending her into the field. Perhaps it was an act of rebellion from a cooped up child. Perhaps it was just coincidence. Regardless of the why, Donovan was tickled pink in every way that wasn't physical.\n\nHe half-listened to Quinn's response as he instead watched as Quinn's hands were bundled in what he assumed were nerves. Last he recalled, this one was a recent addition and had served until recently. He didn't act like it; the jittery movements and glazed over eyes were kinks usually hammered out within the first decade of a mage's life. Donovan had made a note to look into that more on the off-chance it would become a problem. He didn't anticipate it interfering too much but he would make sure to keep an eye on him nonetheless. The last mage was a transfer from Illitas so he would not expect any problems from him yet. The only true wild card was likely to be the Astorio. Even the battle-hungry were predictable but this one was a little smarter than the usual brutes. What a crew.\n\n\"And what of the possibility that the trio is separated?\" Donovan asked. Was it cruel to ask a question that you already knew the answer to?", "username": "Bert Macklin", "char_name": "Donovan Eve" }, { "text": "---\n\n\nChad paid little mind to the conversation at hand, at least outwardly, and instead contented himself by polishing one of his fangs with his tongue. There was still a little blood on it from earlier. A finger came up to wipe at the corner of his mouth and, as suspected, it too came away with a smear of red. He'd been certain to not let even a drop leak out from that guard and onto the floor, but apparently he'd been less meticulous with his own cleanliness. How careless; she didn't even taste that great. Oh well, no harm done.\n\nThat small excitement aside, this operation had been far too boring for the vampire's tastes. He'd been promised a grand conflict with the nearby fortress, and instead he'd been relegated to rescuing idiot mages who'd probably already had their minds torn asunder weeks ago. It didn't help that Dionne's progeny droned on like she was in charge of the operation. Was that his purpose here? Protect daughter dearest from the big bad security guards who'd been left behind when they vacated this dump? At least she had the presence of mind to word her thoughts as suggestions rather than orders, though it was almost cute that she thought he'd need to be reminded to listen for footsteps and hadn't been doing just that since the moment they entered.\n\nOnce again, his attention waned as the little purple boy steered the conversation to an explanation of his parlor trick. At least, Chad was pretty sure that was a boy - he initially considered it might be a flat-chested lesbian with a bad haircut, but the voice suggested otherwise. Great Anastasia, what were they feeding mages these days? Andrei's mother had looked more masculine while eight months pregnant than Casper and Purple Nurple did under the best of circumstances. \n\nChad expected the Eve's input to be more valuable, but he only offered a question of limited importance. Judging by the way he eyed the girl, he was either one of Dionne's sycophants or he somehow found the situation to be incredibly amusing. The Astorio sincerely hoped it was the latter, or this reassignment might actually become irritating.\n\n\"I guess we either drag the first one we find along or we stuff them somewhere safe and come get them after we've located the rest,\" Chad answered with indifferent ease, as if they were discussing the logistics of navigating a grocery store rather than a potentially dangerous imperial prison. \"I'm not averse to splitting up, but I think our little mages have recently become joined at the hip and I'd hate to leave them without a chaperone.\"\n\nThe larger group definitely posed more of a risk of discovery, but they were bound to notice that the last girl stopped checking in eventually and raise the alarm regardless. Besides, with how deserted the compound was, they'd probably be able to fight their way out if it came to it.\n\n\n\n---", "username": "Scribe of Thoth", "char_name": "Quintus \"Quinn\" Contarini" }, { "text": "---\n\n\n\n---\n\nNo objections, that was a good sign. Lyra definitely felt a little relieved that neither vampire questioned her, even if she could do without their judgment. Donovan over there was watching her like she was a little kid, and Chadwick was...bored? Okay, maybe she could kinda sympathize since she'd rather go for a direct fight, too, but come on, there was danger all around them! Then again, she wasn't sure why she expected any different. Most Astorios she knew were the same, and if Chadwick was anything like Nelda, they were always looking for a challenge. She held back a sigh as she tried to decide which was worse, him, or the one who wouldn't stop staring at her. \n\nShe did her best to stow away her annoyance. Her mom warned her that vampires were easily offended, and she'd rather not get into it here. Instead, she turned her attention back to Quintus. She didn't miss him looking at the camera--maybe he didn't like her using his full name? She probably should've asked, but it was too late for that. At least he was way more amiable to her suggestions, and did as asked. The difference was pretty staggering even without taking any steps. Her already short hair already floated away from her face, and she felt a lot lighter. \n\nTaking a few steps, she figured she could handle it. She turned back to him with a nod of approval. \"Nicely done, Quinn,\" She paid him the compliment first and hoped he would like the nickname better before turning to Chadwick. \"We'll see what state they're in and go from there. If we need to split up, we will. You'll get your chance to rip more heads off soon enough.\"\n\nShe almost added that she'd appreciate less commentary, but that was pointless. Instead, she looked back at the smug Eve. Despite knowing there was likely a better time for this, she figured it was better to just get it out in the open. \"If you have any problems with me, either spit it out or stop staring at me,\" Lyra told Donovan. \"I already know what you're thinking. I'm here to help because I want to be here. Now, unless there's any other objections, let's go.\"\n\n---", "username": "Hero", "char_name": null } ]

[ { "text": "---\n\n\nQuinn let himself relax at last as Lyra finally backed down. She didn't at all seem genuine, but so long as everyone had calmed down, they could keep moving. Let them work out their differences somewhere else - preferrably far, far away from him. Hopefully Lyra's conduct wasn't a direct reflection on her mother, or else he might not get the chance. He'd come to Dawn Rising expecting- well, he didn't know, but something akin to a harmonious organization united by common cause, misguided as it was, not a petty microcosm of the Blood War. He certainly hadn't signed up to butt heads with vampires based on some imagined mage solidarity.\n\nLyra tugged one of his sleeves away, and his hands instinctively balled into fists as they separated. Guiltily, his cheeks flushed red again and his mouth parted to offer a mumbled apology for his conduct, but it promptly closed again once he'd registered that she hadn't taken issue with his incessant fidgeting, but rather intended to just beckon him forward. Maybe it would've been for the best; if the vampires saw her chide him like his mother, they probably wouldn't place them as kindred spirits. Certainly would've been embarrassing, though.\n\nPeople here were oddly fond of touching each other, he noted. Or at least touching him. That was twice in a row, did they have no shame? Well, clearly not, if she was so willing to argue with the vampires, but surely one needn't be too dignified to not shower affection on strangers. Merciful Salazar, it was that handsy countess all over again. Except Lyra wasn't even hungry.\n\nQuinn returned his attention to his surroundings as Caspian - or Casper? Did he forget his name so soon? - zipped past, which drew his gaze up to the nearby camera. Right, focus. He followed the other mage's lead and timed his rush with the camera's movement, continuing past Caspian to subtly use him as a barrier should they have underestimated the camera's range. \n\n\"It was worth a shot. If they had already talked, they'd have no reason to keep them alive this long,\" Quinn mused. Hopefully they weren't too late. It didn't make sense to be still holding interrogations when the facility was this deserted, but it didn't exactly make sense to postpone their executions either. Then again, he didn't understand anything about this jail- and he was getting off topic again!\n\nHe took a step back, trying to distance himself from Caspian, lest someone notice he was cowering behind him, then gave the other mage a pensive frown. \"Can your, um... puddle see the upstairs too? It'll at least get us a head start on the cells before we get up there.\" \n\n\n\n---\n\n@Trainerblue192", "username": "Scribe of Thoth", "char_name": "Quintus \"Quinn\" Contarini" }, { "text": "October 9th, 528 - 12:10am\n \n\n Interrogation level - Hasgad Holding Facility\n\nAlthough no alarm had been raised as the group made their way across the room, the elevator suddenly whirred to life. The cables groaned as the elevator rose. The floor indicator changed from 1 to 2… And finally to three as the elevator continued past without opening. The quiet ding of the elevator opening upstairs was muted and the sound of heavy thuds could be heard down the shaft, but the vampires could hear two voices chatting casually.\n\n \"I'm getting as far from here as possible. Mosquito infested swamps are the worst. Cold and snowy, like back home, that's where I'm headed.\" One of them bitched. \"Can't believe they put me in this shit hole after everything.\"\n\n\"Well, hey. We're almost done. Once that freak is done frying the mages, we're less than an hour away from freedom.\" The other placated, a grunt of exertion breaking their words. \"And then you can put in for that post closer to your family, right? Just have to clear out the Interrogation rooms and we can head out.\" The cables began to groan again as the lift descended. \n\nExecution Level - Hasgad Holding Facility\n\nThe Execution chamber of the Hasgand Holding facility was a singular, large room with various covered holes in the floor and attachment points on the wall and ceiling for whatever method the inquisitor and its henchmen were interested in for the night. The stone room was covered in long, metallic strips that ran up the walls and ceiling in a neat grid that included the two heavily reinforced metal doors, which served as the only two points of entry for the room. Two guards, one on each door, stood at rapt attention. \n\nThe scent of smoldering flesh permeated the air as another corpse hit the ground, the face of the poor woman perpetually twisted in agony as smoke wafted off the large black spots at the temple. She'd been fun, but ultimately these mages were too weak to really handle what their executioner wanted to put them through. Two others remained, shackled in heavy chains near the pedestal he'd spent the past ten minutes shoving as much electricity into the silly rebel as she could handle before he got bored and fried her brain with barely a thought. \n\n\"Now, now. Did you enjoy the show? Have we worked up your appetite for a little fun yourself?\" Nasir cheerfully directed his question to the conscious prisoner. The other, a little less worse for wear but still not in great condition, was still under the influence of the drugs they'd pumped into him and he was knocked out like a baby on the floor. \"I'm sure you're interested in the chance to free yourself, but we have to wake up your little friend first!\" \n\nAdorned in the recently redone white and gold Inquisitor uniforms, the supposedly absent Inquisitor Hasgad made his way to his unconscious ward. The heavy soles of his boots echoed in the all but vacant chamber until he carefully lowered himself to one knee, gently brushing away where hair blocked his temple. \"Wakey, wakey little birdie. Time to sing a song for me.\" Inquisitor Hasgad crooned as a flash of light sent a shock straight to Roan's brain.", "username": "Achronum", "char_name": null } ]

[ { "text": "---\n\n\n\n---\n\nNo objections, that was a good sign. Lyra definitely felt a little relieved that neither vampire questioned her, even if she could do without their judgment. Donovan over there was watching her like she was a little kid, and Chadwick was...bored? Okay, maybe she could kinda sympathize since she'd rather go for a direct fight, too, but come on, there was danger all around them! Then again, she wasn't sure why she expected any different. Most Astorios she knew were the same, and if Chadwick was anything like Nelda, they were always looking for a challenge. She held back a sigh as she tried to decide which was worse, him, or the one who wouldn't stop staring at her. \n\nShe did her best to stow away her annoyance. Her mom warned her that vampires were easily offended, and she'd rather not get into it here. Instead, she turned her attention back to Quintus. She didn't miss him looking at the camera--maybe he didn't like her using his full name? She probably should've asked, but it was too late for that. At least he was way more amiable to her suggestions, and did as asked. The difference was pretty staggering even without taking any steps. Her already short hair already floated away from her face, and she felt a lot lighter. \n\nTaking a few steps, she figured she could handle it. She turned back to him with a nod of approval. \"Nicely done, Quinn,\" She paid him the compliment first and hoped he would like the nickname better before turning to Chadwick. \"We'll see what state they're in and go from there. If we need to split up, we will. You'll get your chance to rip more heads off soon enough.\"\n\nShe almost added that she'd appreciate less commentary, but that was pointless. Instead, she looked back at the smug Eve. Despite knowing there was likely a better time for this, she figured it was better to just get it out in the open. \"If you have any problems with me, either spit it out or stop staring at me,\" Lyra told Donovan. \"I already know what you're thinking. I'm here to help because I want to be here. Now, unless there's any other objections, let's go.\"\n\n---", "username": "Hero", "char_name": null }, { "text": "How do you tell someone that they weren't a problem but instead a solution? Donovan was entirely amused as Lyra spoke and made no effort in hiding it. She was a little more observant than he had anticipated but it made things much more entertaining. He could very well directly challenge her now to make things more difficult. He could apologize and follow her lead as inexperienced and fragile as it was. But was there any entertainment value in kowtowing to the desires of a spoiled princess used to having her way? He would argue that both he and Chadwick were playing their parts as followers just fine. There must have been some intimidation from their lax demeanor but confusing boredom with disobedience was a rookie mistake. She was not his to correct but he was happy to put her in her place nonetheless.\n\n\"You're mistaken on whatever judgments you've reserved for our ilk, my dear,\" Donovan said. He was sure to be stern in his discipline. \"Questions were asked. Answers were given. A good leader is aware of the tools at their disposal and operates under the assumption that all are of one mind. Everyone present has chosen to be here as well. Remember this well.\"\n\nStating the obvious was always a pointless endeavor but he wanted as much transparency as possible. He was certain enough was said and delving into a pointless argument would result in lower morale and wasted time. Fortunately he kept himself chipper and made sure to punctuate his lecture by pinching Lyra's cheek. It was likely to annoy her enough to want to move on rather than go back-and-forth. He glanced over at his fellow vampire with a small half-shrug; while he doubted they'd remain comrades-in-arms, he doubted the Astorio cared as much.", "username": "Bert Macklin", "char_name": "Donovan Eve" } ]

[ { "text": "ALTON, ILLINOIS\n\nA black Jeep Renegade pulled up at the side of the road into a street parking spot. It was early evening, not an awful day but not a great day either. It was murky and gray skies all day long, nothing that could truly inspire anyone to really do much. This was no different for the driver of said vehicle. An average height woman, dark blonde hair, long in length that just about framed her face. Dark brown eyes and a slender build covered in jeans, a black vest and black biker jacket. Pulling the keys out of the ignition, she gave a little sigh. \"Man that drive was a killer\" she complained to herself. Taking a moment to just de-stress from the drive that took her a good 14 hours from her last case, Harper found herself stretching her arms up and behind her as best she could in the confines of her jeep. \"right woman, get some food, a drink then head straight to the church\" she commanded herself, knowing if she didn't eat something now, it would no doubt be another long several hours before she did eat. The last thing she wanted was to faint on the hunt or Bobby Singer would have a lot to say. \n\nEver since Ellen and Jo died, Bobby took it upon himself to be her liaison and give her cases, along with checking in ever now and then. It was something she was thankful for as she did miss the Harvelle's greatly and missed having the roadhouse bar to pop into and just let off steam. Snapping the out of her thoughts, she shoved her car keys in her jacket pocket, grabbed her wallet and got out of her vehicle, walking into the diner she had parked in front of. Stepping up to the bar, she looked at the menu before ordering a coffee, burger and fries as she sat on the stool. \"well not seen you here before beautiful\" a grubby older man greeted her and sat beside her. She rolled her eyes and slowly turned to face him, \"correct, you've not seen me before and before you continue with whatever mindless spiel you think would sweep me of my feet? Don't. It won't work, I'm not interested, will never be interested. I just wanna eat my food, drink my coffee and leave.\" She said flatly as she smoothly turned back to face the bar and continue on with waiting for her food and drinking her coffee that a waitress had been pouring whilst she roasted the man beside her.\n\n-----------\n\nFOUR HOURS LATER\n\nShe pulled up round the back of the first Unitarian church, parking in a place that had no cameras in sight and got out. Walking round to the trunk, she popped it open grabbing her duffel bag that she had earlier on packed with anything she may need for a ghost hunt. Slinging it over her shoulder, she closed the trunk, made sure it had locked shut and stepped back round to head to the back door. She didn't notice anyone else around which she took as a good sign and walking up to the back door, she pulled out her pick lock kit to use to gain access to the church. She had earlier cased the joint on a tour so she knew the layout beforehand, something she didn't think enough hunters did. To her it proved vital to do such an action if the opportunity was there, and tonight was no different. With access gained, a torch on, she knew exactly the kind of places to check on. \"Alright ghosts, where you hiding? I know you're causing problems here than the tour guides are letting on\" she quietly spoke. \n\nA crash was heard downstairs in the basement and Harper sighed. \"Always the bloody basement\" she complained, pulling her handgun from her jeans, already loaded with salt rounds. Cautiously walking through, she headed right for the basement door, opening it slowly and flashing her torch light down the stairs as she carefully stepped down. Part of her wanted to call out, but the sensible side of her brain knew not to say anything, just on the off chance that it wasn't the ghost she was hunting, but a real very much alive", "username": "FuriePhoenix", "char_name": "Harper Olsen" }, { "text": "Wood River, Illinois\n\nIt was early the evening, and a slender framed biker, clad in a black leather jacket, dark blue jeans, and black boots, pulled up to a slightly rundown diner on a black and dark purple Harley. It wasn't until they killed the engine, put down the kickstand, got off the bike, and removed their helmet, that their gender was revealed. After removing her helmet, she gave her head a shake and ran a hand through her hair to remove it from her face and give it a slight fluff. Setting her helmet on the seat of the Harley, she stretched her arms over her head with a slight groan. \"Man, what a ride.\" she spoke to herself. \"Maybe I should have brought the car for this one.\" Arching her back, several pops were heard before she straightened herself and let her arms fall and her hands landed on her helmet. \"Ah, that's better.\" she said softly to herself. Picking up the helmet and her keys, she unlocked and opened up the traveling box and placed her helmet inside it, closed it, and locked it back. As she shoved her keys into her pocket, she walked up to the diner door. Just before she took hold of the handle, a rather handsome man came up and opened the door for her. \"Allow me.\" he said in a kind tone with a charming smile. \"Thank you.\" she replied in a kind tone in return. Stepping through the door, she headed over to the bar and sat down on one of the stools. She preferred it over a table. She always felt a little confined when sitting at a table in a diner or any other place. Picking up a menu, she looked it over to see what they offered. She was pleased to see that one of her favorite burgers was on the menu, and it was what she had her mouth set for. Setting down the menu with a soft sigh, she waited for a waitress to come over and take her order.\n\nA few moments later, an older woman came over with a large, warm smile on her face. \"What can I get you, Sugar.\" the lady asked just as warmly as her smile. This made the younger woman smile in return before she spoke. \"I'll have the mushroom burger, with fries and a sprite.\" The older woman jotted down the order and gave a nod. \"I'll get this put in and have it out shortly.\" she told her. \"Thank you.\" The older woman smiled once again at her and walked off to put in the order. Now by herself, no one was on either side of her, she pulled out her phone and began going through the messages to make sure she hadn't missed anything. Then she pulled out a book from the inside pocket of her jacket and began scanning the pages. As she did this, the waitress brought over her drink. She gave a \"Thank you.\" and went back to what she was doing, falling deep into thought. She didn't even notice someone had sat down beside her and was watching her intently until they spoke. \"Hey, Beautiful. What do you say we get our orders to go and we go somewhere and get to know one another better.\" Releasing a sigh through her nose, she closed her book and tucked it away before turning and looking at the one that spoke. I was the man that had opened and held the door open for her. \"Sorry, I'll have to rain-check that. I have somewhere to be after this.\" she told him. \"Aww, come on. Can't you go later?\" he said, acting hurt. \"No, I can't, actually.\" she said flatly. He went to speak again, but she cut him off before he even got a word out. \"Look, I don't have the time to go mess around with some random guy. I just want to eat and be on my way. Alright?\" she said flatly. \"Fine, but can I at least get your number to call you for a date?\" Sighing with a nod, she wrote the number to the rejection hotline on a napkin with a fake name. \"Thanks, gorgeous.\" \n\nAbout Four hours later\nAlton, Illinois \n\nAfter a good meal in her belly and a slight altercation with another over her Harley, she finally made it to the town she was headed for. Before it had gotten too late, she got in on one tour for the Church she was headed to. As the tour guide spoke about the place and what was going on, she had a feeling more was going on than they let on, and this intrigued her greatly. She actually enjoyed a good haunted place. At one point, she snuck away from the group and do a little investigating on her own, then join the group again before anyone noticed she had left. It was definitely an interesting building, to say the least. So much history and beautiful architecture in one place. One could easily get lost within its walls if they weren't careful. After the tour and taking another look around outside, she left and found a place to camp out until later that night. She couldn't just stay parked out front with her Harley without it looking suspicious. Once the time was right, she made her way back to the Church, parking her Harley down a little way from the Church, and made her way to the little window for the basement while staying out of sight of the security cameras. Kneeling down, she pulled out a knife, worked the lock free, opened it, and slid her slender frame through, being careful not to knock over the totes that were below the window. Once her feet were on solid ground, she tucked away her knife and pulled out a flashlight, and shone it around the room. This was the one room she hadn't made it to when she was there earlier. \"Alright, I know you're here. It's the only place with an ominous vibe.\" she spoke out into the cool room. \"Come out, come out, wherever you are.\" she called out slowly as she made her way to the center of the room. \n\nThe longer she was in the basement, the more uneasy she became. Even when nothing happened after she had called out to the ghosts, she still felt uneasy. Sighing heavily, she walked around the basement, looking at the things lining the walls and in the boxes that were there. She had found nothing of any importance but felt she was close when her EMF device went crazy within her top jacket pocket. Before she could even turn to look around the basement room, she was grabbed and sent flying across the room. \"GET OUT!!\" An angered voice rang out in the room as she slammed into the wall at the end of the room, then crashed into the boxes and other various items on the floor. \"Son of a bitch! That smarts!\" she groaned as she pushed herself upright. \"You're going to pay for that, Casper!\" she growled. She heard giggling before being thrown once again into a wall. \"You've made a mistake coming here.\" a ghostly child-like voice said. \"Maybe, but I will send you where you belong!\" Child-like giggling was heard again at her comment. She pulled out her gun just as a ghostly figure of a man appeared before her. \"We'd like to see you try!\" he laughed moments before she shot him with a salt round.", "username": "Wolvena", "char_name": "Arabella Snow" } ]

[ { "text": "Harper was convinced she was going to be choked to death by this spirit- Catherine that this other huntress mentioned before she got ambushed, her vision was beginning to blur, she could almost feel the oxygen leave her brain and she knew any moment now she would no doubt pass out and probably never wake up. She barely saw the moment when Arabella manifested an iron staff out of seemingly nowhere, at least from Harper's angle and position it seemed to be out of nowhere. Continuing her grasping and scrambling at trying to get free, she suddenly began to give up when all air came rushing back to her lungs and oxygen came rushing back to her brain. It was then that she noticed it was the young boy spirit who helped her out and got rid of this Catherine. Listening to the kid tell her to get moving if she was serious about helping them, she nodded and clambering up onto her feet. A wave of adrenaline hitting her all over, swiping her handgun off the floor in a clean swoop as she turned to face the stairs and rushed upstairs. \n\n\"Follow or stay down here to hold the fort, I don't care! Just be useful!\" She called back toward Arabella, kicking the basement door back open with her combat boot clad foot and rushed into the main hallway. There was no time to waste and she knew if she didn't get the job done, she wouldn't just risk her own life, but she would risk the other blonde downstairs as well. She refused to see another hunter go down on a hunt gone bad, too many have been lost over the years and she was not going to be somewhat responsible for another. \"display cases, display cases\" she muttered to herself as she ran through and found the room that had the cases inside. Right as Arabella said, she saw the items and the plaques stating which was which, so at least this part was easy for her. The difficult part? Finding something to smash the cases open as she left her bag by the front door as the noise from the basement had earlier made her drop her bag and focus on just having her handgun. \n\nDarting her eyes around, she landed her eyes on an emergency hammer to break glass with and rushed over, parkouring herself over another display case to get to the wall quicker. She grabbed the mini hammer off the wall and went back to the first display case nearest to her that she needed. \"Harper smash I guess!\" she said to herself as she forcefully swung the hammer up and then back down, right onto the glass, smashing it easily enough. With her spare hand, she rummaged into her jacket pocket to pull out her trust zippo lighter, flicking the top open and with some quick but thorough movements, she lit it up and lowered it to the first item, a pendant, she needed to burn. It was then she realised she forgot the salt and cursed to herself. \"Dammit it!\" she complained, running back to where she left her duffel bag and running back to the displays. Slamming her bag down on an adjacent display case she hadn't smashed open, she unzipped it and grabbed for her salt box. Popping the resealable lid off it, she scattered the salt into the flames hoping that it would be enough. \"One hopefully down and now some more to go\" she sighed to herself. \"Just hold out a little longer down there\" she muttered, hoping the other hunter was still very much alive and fighting. \n\nRunning to the second display case she needed, she saw two old cotton dolls that were clearly homemade for the children that still haunted the place. This time she did it the correct way and smashed the case, covered the dolls in salt and then set them on fire. \"rest easy now kids\" she commented. She may hate children but that didn't mean she wished the kind of existence that they were having as spirits. No person deserved to be stuck in this world and to go crazy in her mind. If you died, you stayed dead and moved on. Unfinished business to remain on this earth just didn't help anyone. It just gave people like herself a job to do that no one else knew how to do. Snapping out of her thoughts, she went to the last case she needed and smashed it open, but just as she was about to salt the items, she felt a force throw her sideways. \"son of a bitch!\" she cursed with gritted teeth, scrambling back up onto her feet. Standing in front of her was the male Rayden. \"just give it up already mate. Staying here is doing no one any good.\" she told him. \n\n\"I'll do what I want in a place that was mine!\" he barked, making Harper roll her head side to side, bones in her shoulders cracking in the process. \"you know I'm really tired of you lot refusing to move on. You think I enjoy this job!?\" she said back at him, unamused and fed up with the whole night. \"All you hunters do!\" he snapped back at her. \"Alright, thats it. I've had it\" Harper grunted, pulling out her handgun with salt rounds and in a swift action, raised it, aimed and pulled the trigger to give her the opening she so desperately needed. With Rayden gone, she run back to the last case and poured her salt all over the items. An old bible, sash and glasses. She wasn't taking any chances. Lighting her zippo once more, she chucked it into the case, watching all the flames envelope the items and burn brightly.", "username": "FuriePhoenix", "char_name": "Harper Olsen" }, { "text": "Using her bo staff for support, Arabella took to her feet now that she had the opportunity to. Once on her feet, she rubbed her sore neck as she looked over at the steps as Harper called over to her. \"Don't worry about me. I have things covered down here.\" she called to her in a raspy voice. As soon as Harper disappeared up the stairs, Catherine and Rayden appeared just feet in front of her, Arabella smirked as she stared them down. \"Bring it on, Caspers.\" she taunted. Lifting her staff from the floor, she spun it over her head, then brought it around behind her as she took a fighting stance. Holding out her other arm, palm up, she closed and opened her fingers to get the ghosts to attack her. \"You and your friend won't be leaving her alive tonight!\" Rayden yelled as he and Catherine attacked in unison. Arabella's smirk grew as she moved from her spot, in almost a dance-like manner, and brought her staff down on both ghosts. \"We'll see about that!\" she called out. She hoped that she could keep these two distracted to give Harper enough time to locate the items to salt and burn them. \n\nArabella continued to move around the room, fighting off the ghosts with her bo staff with the help of the distorted ghosts, which were beginning to look like a female in their early to mid-teens. As she moved around the room fighting, she was also looking for her gun that had been knocked from her hands, she finally found it and tucked it into her pocket after picking it up. Things were going smoothly until Catherine and Rayden grew enraged and they both went invisible. They double-teamed her and slammed her into a wall, causing her to lose her grip on the staff, then they picked her up and threw her into the stairs with such force they broke under her weight. \"Dammit to hell!\" she groaned, struggling to get up. Before she could even make it onto her knees, she was lifted into the air by her neck. She lifted her hands to her neck, trying to pry the invisible hands from it. Rayden's face materialized in front of her face with a wicked grin. \"We're going to rip you apart!\" he laughed in her face. Catherine then materialized just as she took hold of Arabella's arm and began to pull. \n\nBefore she could even get out a scream of pain, the distorted ghost came to her rescue once again. She attacked Catherine, who cried out as she was held back. That still left Arabella with Rayden squeezing her neck and fighting for air once again. What's taking her so long? she thought to herself. Seconds later, the boy in the corner disappeared in an all too familiar way. Harper had found the cases and was burning the items. She found them. she thought in relief. A few more seconds passed and Catherine went with a scream. Enraged, Rayden squeezed Arabella's throat even tighter, cutting off all her air, and causing her to struggle in his grip. The distorted ghost came to her rescue, hitting Rayden just before Arabella lost consciousness. She fell into the rubble of the broken stairs, coughing and gasping for air. \"I'll kill her before she has a chance to burn my things! I'm not leaving this place!\" he yelled and disappeared. Struggling to her feet, Arabella grabbed her things, jumped over the broken steps, ran up the rest, and bolted through the door to meet up with Harper. Before she could reach the room, she heard a crash and an exchange of words between the blonde huntress and Rayden. Just as she entered the room, she saw Rayden going up in flames. She'd done it. \n\nArabella dropped her bag and leaned against the doorframe, looking into the room at the smashed cases and burning items. \"I see you found them. Are you alright?\" she said, bringing a hand up to her sore neck. It was then the last ghost of the place showed up, she looked at both women, the distortion fading from her appearance to reveal a young girl about the age of sixteen. \"Thank you for setting them free. I know it wasn't an easy task.\" she spoke kindly. \"If you could do one more thing before leaving, I would be very grateful.\" Arabella looked from the ghost to Harper, then back. \"And what is that?\" she asked her. The young ghost smiled kindly to Arabella and turned to fully face her. \"Set me free as well. I've only stayed to try and keep the others from harming the people here.\" she told her. She then turned and walked over to one of the glass cases, looked within it for a moment, and back to Arabella. \"These are my things. Please help me move on.\" she pleaded. Arabella nodded, then retrieved her salt from her bag and walked over to the case, opposite the ghost. \n\nUsing her staff, she broke the glass and poured salt over the items after popping the top of the container. After pulling her lighter from her pocket she looked back at the ghost. \"Thank you for helping us down there.\" Arabella said kindly. The ghost smiled warmly in return. Flipping open her lighter, she lit it and set the items on fire, looking up to watch the ghost go with a pleasant smile on her face and hear a \"Thank you.\" from her. With a sigh, Arabella walked back over to her bag and put her salt back in it. \"Man, this one turned out to be a tough one.\" she said as she zipped up her bag. Turning back to Harper, she leaned against the doorframe again. \"Thanks for your help on this. I know you couldn't have been happy about another hunter showing up on your case.\"", "username": "Wolvena", "char_name": "Arabella Snow" } ]

[ { "text": "Catching her breath from finally sending the ghosts back to wherever they were destined to be going made Harper feel glad that it was finally over. This was one of those cases that made her feel like it did not need to be this chaotic, but yet it became as such anyway. She didn't even realise that Arabella had made her way upstairs and was leaning in the doorway until her spoke broke the now silence that rang through the room. \"Yeah, I'm fine. Worn out but alright\" she replied, not even noticing at first the glass shard that was stuck in her right side just above her hip. \n\nShe was about to place her hands on her hips when the last ghost of the building decided to show up, putting Harper on edge, however it seemed this ghost didn't want to fight, instead wanted to be set free. She kept back as Arabella took over in doing the last one. The fact that this last girl was actually thankful and had done all she could to have helped them and even thanked them for freeing this establishment from the negative energies. \n\nWith the last spirit taken care of, she gave a nod to Arabella's words. \"Likewise, I'm not exactly much of a team player in this business but I gotta say, this night proved it needed to be a two hunter job. It's certainly been one hell of a night that's for sure.\" she replied seeing the woman lean against the wall.\nHarper leaned against one of the few glass cases that hadn't been smashed before whelping ever so slightly in a hiss making her look down at her sides. \"well shit....\" she complained in a huff. \"Guess I'll be sorting that out back at the motel\" she commented seeing the blood seep into her t-shirt a little and the shard of glass just poking out. Her reaction was one of more annoyance at the now ripped shirt than it was for having glass sticking out of her body. She was used to getting unnatural things lodged into her, but she hadn't long gotten this shirt and now it was already distressed. \n\n\"I'm staying at The Golding, where you staying at?\" she asked her finally as she grabbed her lighter now that the flames had died off.", "username": "FuriePhoenix", "char_name": "Harper Olsen" }, { "text": "Arabella gave a slight smile to Harper's response to her words. She had to agree that this case had turned out to be a two-hunter job. Which was a surprise to her. She never thought a case involving a few ghosts would have required two people to get the job done. But being in this line of work for as long as she had, she should have known it was bound to happen. Then again, who could have prepared themselves for ghosts being such a pain in the ass like these? She watched Harper lean against one of the unbroken display cases, her attention being perked as she heard the woman hiss in pain. Her eyes followed Harper's to her side to the shard of glass poking through her shirt. With how much the two of them were thrown around, it wasn't a surprise that one of them would have something lodged into their bodies from it. Arabella almost laughed at how annoyed Harper seemed to be over it. Must be a new shirt. she thought to herself. \n\nHer eyes came back up to Harper's face at her question and she gave a light laugh as she brushed some hair from her face. \"You know, for the first time in a while, I didn't stop to get a room before coming here. After going through the tour earlier, I ended up going and camping out at the park and going over everything I had gathered.\" she admitted. \"But I had thought about staying at The Golding after the ghosts were taken care of.\" It was true, she had completely forgotten to go and reserve a room before doing anything involving the case they had just taken care of. This wasn't like her in the slightest, but she also hadn't wanted to lock herself in a room and pour herself over her research while she waited. She had needed the fresh air even if she had arrived on her motorcycle. \n\n\"If you need help with that, or making sure you don't have any more glass in you. I could lend a hand.\" she offered. She then tucked her lighter back into her jacket pocket as she looked over at Harper. She then looked around at the mess in the room they were in, it wasn't too bad, mostly glass, which made it look like a robbery happened. She knew the basement looked far worse than this room did, thanks to her being thrown around like a ragdoll by Rayden and Catherine. Arabella began to wonder if it was even worth it to even try to clean up after everything. She took a deep breath to sigh and instantly regretted it, as pain shot through her right side, causing her to wince. Looking down, she moved her jacket to the side and saw a good-sized piece of wood protruding through her shirt. \n\nWalking over to a mirror that was in the room, she turned sideways to get a better look to see just how bad it was. The shard of wood had gone through the back of her jacket, pinning it to her body. She reached around and felt around, feeling some of it protruding from her jacket. \"Damn….. Looks like those stairs had some bite after all.\" she complained. \"This is my favorite jacket too. At least it feels like it's not life-threatening.\" she added mostly to herself. She then turned back to Harper as she let her jacket fall back into place. \"Looks like we'll both have something to take care of when we get to the motel.\" she laughed softly.", "username": "Wolvena", "char_name": "Arabella Snow" } ]

[ { "text": "Using her bo staff for support, Arabella took to her feet now that she had the opportunity to. Once on her feet, she rubbed her sore neck as she looked over at the steps as Harper called over to her. \"Don't worry about me. I have things covered down here.\" she called to her in a raspy voice. As soon as Harper disappeared up the stairs, Catherine and Rayden appeared just feet in front of her, Arabella smirked as she stared them down. \"Bring it on, Caspers.\" she taunted. Lifting her staff from the floor, she spun it over her head, then brought it around behind her as she took a fighting stance. Holding out her other arm, palm up, she closed and opened her fingers to get the ghosts to attack her. \"You and your friend won't be leaving her alive tonight!\" Rayden yelled as he and Catherine attacked in unison. Arabella's smirk grew as she moved from her spot, in almost a dance-like manner, and brought her staff down on both ghosts. \"We'll see about that!\" she called out. She hoped that she could keep these two distracted to give Harper enough time to locate the items to salt and burn them. \n\nArabella continued to move around the room, fighting off the ghosts with her bo staff with the help of the distorted ghosts, which were beginning to look like a female in their early to mid-teens. As she moved around the room fighting, she was also looking for her gun that had been knocked from her hands, she finally found it and tucked it into her pocket after picking it up. Things were going smoothly until Catherine and Rayden grew enraged and they both went invisible. They double-teamed her and slammed her into a wall, causing her to lose her grip on the staff, then they picked her up and threw her into the stairs with such force they broke under her weight. \"Dammit to hell!\" she groaned, struggling to get up. Before she could even make it onto her knees, she was lifted into the air by her neck. She lifted her hands to her neck, trying to pry the invisible hands from it. Rayden's face materialized in front of her face with a wicked grin. \"We're going to rip you apart!\" he laughed in her face. Catherine then materialized just as she took hold of Arabella's arm and began to pull. \n\nBefore she could even get out a scream of pain, the distorted ghost came to her rescue once again. She attacked Catherine, who cried out as she was held back. That still left Arabella with Rayden squeezing her neck and fighting for air once again. What's taking her so long? she thought to herself. Seconds later, the boy in the corner disappeared in an all too familiar way. Harper had found the cases and was burning the items. She found them. she thought in relief. A few more seconds passed and Catherine went with a scream. Enraged, Rayden squeezed Arabella's throat even tighter, cutting off all her air, and causing her to struggle in his grip. The distorted ghost came to her rescue, hitting Rayden just before Arabella lost consciousness. She fell into the rubble of the broken stairs, coughing and gasping for air. \"I'll kill her before she has a chance to burn my things! I'm not leaving this place!\" he yelled and disappeared. Struggling to her feet, Arabella grabbed her things, jumped over the broken steps, ran up the rest, and bolted through the door to meet up with Harper. Before she could reach the room, she heard a crash and an exchange of words between the blonde huntress and Rayden. Just as she entered the room, she saw Rayden going up in flames. She'd done it. \n\nArabella dropped her bag and leaned against the doorframe, looking into the room at the smashed cases and burning items. \"I see you found them. Are you alright?\" she said, bringing a hand up to her sore neck. It was then the last ghost of the place showed up, she looked at both women, the distortion fading from her appearance to reveal a young girl about the age of sixteen. \"Thank you for setting them free. I know it wasn't an easy task.\" she spoke kindly. \"If you could do one more thing before leaving, I would be very grateful.\" Arabella looked from the ghost to Harper, then back. \"And what is that?\" she asked her. The young ghost smiled kindly to Arabella and turned to fully face her. \"Set me free as well. I've only stayed to try and keep the others from harming the people here.\" she told her. She then turned and walked over to one of the glass cases, looked within it for a moment, and back to Arabella. \"These are my things. Please help me move on.\" she pleaded. Arabella nodded, then retrieved her salt from her bag and walked over to the case, opposite the ghost. \n\nUsing her staff, she broke the glass and poured salt over the items after popping the top of the container. After pulling her lighter from her pocket she looked back at the ghost. \"Thank you for helping us down there.\" Arabella said kindly. The ghost smiled warmly in return. Flipping open her lighter, she lit it and set the items on fire, looking up to watch the ghost go with a pleasant smile on her face and hear a \"Thank you.\" from her. With a sigh, Arabella walked back over to her bag and put her salt back in it. \"Man, this one turned out to be a tough one.\" she said as she zipped up her bag. Turning back to Harper, she leaned against the doorframe again. \"Thanks for your help on this. I know you couldn't have been happy about another hunter showing up on your case.\"", "username": "Wolvena", "char_name": "Arabella Snow" }, { "text": "Catching her breath from finally sending the ghosts back to wherever they were destined to be going made Harper feel glad that it was finally over. This was one of those cases that made her feel like it did not need to be this chaotic, but yet it became as such anyway. She didn't even realise that Arabella had made her way upstairs and was leaning in the doorway until her spoke broke the now silence that rang through the room. \"Yeah, I'm fine. Worn out but alright\" she replied, not even noticing at first the glass shard that was stuck in her right side just above her hip. \n\nShe was about to place her hands on her hips when the last ghost of the building decided to show up, putting Harper on edge, however it seemed this ghost didn't want to fight, instead wanted to be set free. She kept back as Arabella took over in doing the last one. The fact that this last girl was actually thankful and had done all she could to have helped them and even thanked them for freeing this establishment from the negative energies. \n\nWith the last spirit taken care of, she gave a nod to Arabella's words. \"Likewise, I'm not exactly much of a team player in this business but I gotta say, this night proved it needed to be a two hunter job. It's certainly been one hell of a night that's for sure.\" she replied seeing the woman lean against the wall.\nHarper leaned against one of the few glass cases that hadn't been smashed before whelping ever so slightly in a hiss making her look down at her sides. \"well shit....\" she complained in a huff. \"Guess I'll be sorting that out back at the motel\" she commented seeing the blood seep into her t-shirt a little and the shard of glass just poking out. Her reaction was one of more annoyance at the now ripped shirt than it was for having glass sticking out of her body. She was used to getting unnatural things lodged into her, but she hadn't long gotten this shirt and now it was already distressed. \n\n\"I'm staying at The Golding, where you staying at?\" she asked her finally as she grabbed her lighter now that the flames had died off.", "username": "FuriePhoenix", "char_name": "Harper Olsen" } ]

[ { "text": "Ranbu no Izayoi\n\nYears of training and battlefield experience allowed Izayoi the luxury of keeping an eye on her companions even as she evaded and turned aside the blades of the Valheim soldiers assailing her. The rogue was struggling against even one soldier, but at least he managed to prevail in the end. The raider to her left overcommitted in his strike, and Izayoi took full advantage of his error, narrowly evading to the side before plunging the tip of her blade into his shoulder. \n\nIzayoi frowned as he stumbled back and she was forced to stay on the defense, madly dodging and parrying three more strikes in response. This wasn't so much of a challenge, per se, as it was frustrating. Were she closer to her former speed, these men would be nothing more than rust on her sword by now. But as it stood, she didn't have much of an opening to even cast a Haste spell on herself and approach that level of swiftness. Gods, but her master would be disappointed to see the state Izayoi was in now. \n\nFortunately, the Faye mage proved his worth in short order and electrified every single soldier in the room, save for the one she'd knocked back but moments prior. That soldier seemed to gape at his compatriots being eliminated so easily, but before he could gather himself, Izayoi rushed forward, knocking the man's blade from his hands with her own sword before raising her sandaled foot to kick into his chestplate, knocking him through the door he came through and stumbling out towards the doorway. She didn't let up, leaping forward and slamming the soldier into the hallway, landing with her mounted on top of his prone form, katana pointed at his throat. A quick glance at the surrounding area revealed no immediate threats, and thus she felt secure enough to conduct an impromptu interrogation.\n\n\"Answer well, and you may live to see the morrow.\" Izayoi snarled, the tip of her sword pricking where she knew it would find purchase and drawing blood. \"Where can I find your commanding officer? I would have words with him.\"", "username": "Psyker Landshark", "char_name": "Izayoi Furuya" }, { "text": "Galahad Caradoc\n\n---\n\n\n\nGalahad afforded the others in his room a slight nod as they quickly followed up and dispatched the intruders. They were all strangers, and yet their reactions were fast and effective. Arton had followed him into the fight without a question and their two casters made short work of the rest of their foes once Arton and himself had occupied their attention. From what he could hear out in the hall, it appeared the others, at least in the immediate vicinity were meeting more or less the same success. At the very least their fighting prowess bode well for whatever tasks they may have in the future. There were questions to be had about the security of the castle, but that'd be something up to Leonhart and his guards, not Galahad. \n\nGlancing out of the room towards the three that Neve had knocked out of the room, the appeared to be mostly unconscious, and others were already walking into the hall with them. The red mage poked his head into their room to make comments at his expense. With a shake of his head and a wave of his hand, Galahad more or less dismissed them.\n\n\"This isn't my home, level your complaints at the Leonhart.\" Turning to Arton, Galahad's eyes quickly travelled to their packs of gear and armor, before returning to the broad swordsman. \"Now is a good as time as any to get the rest of your armor on.\"\n\nGalahad himself was currently bereft of his armor, his plates sitting in a neat pile by his bed. Luckily, he was used to putting on his armor by himself at this point, and the armor of the Dragoons was designed to be light enough to be easily donned in a rush. The accents would have to wait, thrown hastily into his waiting pack, but the rest of his armor came on without much difficulty at all. The blue steel of his armor plates shown faintly in the moonlight as he quietly strode out of the room, halberd in hand. \n\nRegarding the three that Neve had thrown against the wall, he prodded one with the butt of his weapon before kicking theirs well out of reach. In the distance, he could hear that one of the Valheim soldiers were already being interrogated.\n\n\"It seems our journey is destined to begin early.\" Galahad mused, kneeling down as he pried the helmet off one of the unconscious Valhiem soldiers. \"Nicely done.\"", "username": "vietmyke", "char_name": null }, { "text": "Location: Balmung Castle | HallwayMentions:@Ambra@vietmyke@Lucky@Dezuel\n\n\n\n---\n\n\nArton retrieved his sword from the Valheimian's now lifeless body, crimson blood splattered along his forearm. He turned his head to side as he felt a warmth suddenly get closer. The Sollan nearly jumped at the creature that was busy pummeling a soldier with fists of flame and fury. The screams uttered by its victim was enough to be glad it was on their side and a reminder not to anger his Vieran roommate. Foolishly, he had let the goblin-creature distract him and didn't catch one of the last attackers aiming their weapon towards them. Adrenaline shot through his veins as he hastily tried to raise his shield in time, but the shots rang out first. He blinked and in that time Neve had cast a barrier over them. He looked back at Neve for a brief moment after she expelled the rest from the room, giving a small, curt nod of thanks \"Thanks to you.. After fully rising to his feet, Arton took a look at the rest of their attackers and then his comrades \"Right. I'm sure they're fine but we group together.\". They were victorious in this instance but it was going to be a long, long night.\n\nArton entered the Hallway alongside Galahad, ready to cover his flank if the hall were flooded with more foes. A bright smile flashed on his face followed soon by an strained laugh as they ran into the boisterous red-mage from earlier \"I, uh, take it the rest of them with you are alright?\" This was certainly going to be an on-going thing between them, wasn't it? He was hard-pressed to call it a 'battle' of wits but he couldn't find more accurate words at the moment \"You're right, I'll be right back.\" Arton replied to Galahad before heading back into the room. He had most of the under-layers of his armor equipped already so it was a quick and simple task to put the rest on. This was the first time Arton had to fight with proper soldiers and he wondered if training and ability would be enough in lieu of real experience.\n\nThe Sollan emerged from their room once more, fully equipped in armor boasting a mixture of hard and soft plating \"Well, I know at least ONE person that is enjoying themselves right now.\" He wasn't exactly sure if Ranbu could have 'fun', but judging by her earlier tone towards Valheim this was probably close. His head turned to gaze down one end of the hall and then the other \"What do we do now? Gather our forces and then?\" He was out of his element completely. The last time he was in this kind of situation...well he figured Galahad would understand what to do.", "username": "Ithradine", "char_name": "Arton Yule" } ]

[ { "text": "Galahad Caradoc\n\n---\n\n\n\nGalahad sighed as he watched the various personalities clash before him- perhaps he'd spoken too soon, maybe while his own little room seemed to mesh well enough, it wasn't a proper representation of the party as a whole. While Izayoi was living up to her name and taking lives, Arton had not taken particularly well to it. The viera seemed to wish to help the others, while the red mage seemed to wish to leave altogether, seemingly taunting them into following him. Galahad made eye contact with Arton and nodded to the man before the sollan went to follow the gunbreaker. With a short sigh, Galahad figured he'd might as well voice his own opinions as well.\n\n\"I'll not leave while people are in danger. Leifur is right, the enemy- and likely their leader are still somewhere within these walls.\" Galahad sounded off, \"Most curious that they decide to attack once Leonhart has decided that he wishes to end the blight- perhaps the Valheim do have something to do with it after all.\"\n\nReadying his halberd, Galahad rolled his shoulders and went to move with Arton and Leifur, his armor clicking lightly as he moved. Pausing in front of Neve, Galahad placed a light hand on the healer's shoulder. \"Its safer in numbers, let us go.\" He said to her as he picked up his pace to catch up with the other warriors. His eyes caught the prone form of a castle guard, dead at his post. The Valheim soldiers had moved fast- faster than anyone could've reacted. Where did they come from- perhaps they were seeded in the ranks of the adventurers come to take up the call? At the very least most of those with him seemed trustworthy- or at least not visibly in league with Valheim.\n\nA solid hand clapped Arton's shoulder, behind his visored helmet, Galahad nodded at him. \"The halls of the castle are narrow, but my halberd can reach past your shoulders. Keep your shield arm steady, and we'll form a wall to protect the others.\"", "username": "vietmyke", "char_name": null }, { "text": "Balmung Castle - Sleeping Quarters\nGearing Up\n\n---\n\n\nSpecific Mentions:\n \nAelphis wasn't quite sure what was going on, with his head whirling around and all. What he was sure about, however, was that the castle was under siege, and they needed to move. While everyone was busy either discussing plans of action or arguing semantics, Aelphis instead chose to get all the things he needs ready to head out, almost sneakily heading back to his pack.\n\nThe mage's main focus was hooking up his ether distiller to his arm, but he also needed another thing from his pack. Something he probably shouldn't have. It was a strange spherical crystal, green and hazy. With a quick peek over his shoulders, Aelphis stuffed the crystal into his robes, before ensuring that his ether distiller was properly hooked onto his wrist. Of course, this would likely take a bit of time given the intricacies of the device, but as soon as he was ready, he would quickly waddle back to the rest of the group...\n\n... Only to see that much of the group has already made off.\n\n\"A-ah! Wait for me!\" The Faye yelled out after his companions, doing his very best to catch up! Oh, how tiring running was...", "username": "Cu Chulainn", "char_name": "Aelphis Vres-Lii" } ]

[ { "text": "Location: Balmung Castle | Castle GroundsMentions: N/A\n\n\n\n---\n\n\n Arton quickly turned to Neve while Galahad spoke, desperately trying to maintain his composure in the face of the growing chaos \"Neve, let's see if anyone could you use your help. I'll make sure you don't get...\" His gaze briefly flicked to the stand-off \"...interrupted.\". He placed a hand on her shoulder from behind with a gentle push in case the situation had made her freeze up. If a brawl was to break out, it'd be bad if the healer of their group got caught up in it. At this point, he doubt throwing his own voice and weight around would do any good. \n\nIt had astonished him how quickly Ranbu had jumped to the aid of Neve. Her methods might have been questionable but there was no denying her instincts and reactions were beyond words. Truth be told, if she hadn't moved first then Arton would have placed himself between Neve and the aggressive man. He didn't agree taking it to the degree she did, but he also respected the quick decision to defend a comrade. It was more of surprise that Zeidgram decided to join her in escalation, going so far as to strike one of the Skaellans and confirmed one of his theories about the man.\n\n\"I'm sure Galahad can smooth things over...I mean, I hope so.\" Arton tried to reassure Neve, but he was quite uncertain himself what was about to unfold. It was a chance, perhaps subconsciously, to distance himself from his countrymen. He never felt at ease with them \"So, I'm not too bad at first-aid if you need me to help.\" Arton tried to offer. He was hesitant to help Galahad mediate the situation, not due to his incapability to do so but for the backlash it might incite. He was the humble, stalwart swordsman Arton and that was he had to be.", "username": "Ithradine", "char_name": "Arton Yule" }, { "text": "Balmung Castle - Courtyard\nCatching Up\n\n---\n\n\nSpecific Mentions:\n \nSo... much... running...\n\nAelphis had paused for a bit in the middle of the hallway, resting a hand on the wall as he leaned over to recuperate. Gods, if he had to do this much running on the field, he'd probably be dead before he even had a lick of that Gil! Aelphis was regretting not investing into any materia that would increase his physique in any way. That would have been better than the one he was shackled with. Procuring the green orb in his sleeve, Aelphis actually wondered for a bit about its uses. Really, all he used it for was for pest removal, but the more he thought about it, the more he realized that toads are pretty fast and light. Maybe turning into one would help him catch up with the rest!\n\nSpeaking of the rest, Aelphis began to take in his surroundings, specifically the bodies littered around the hallways he was in. Truthfully, the dead never really bothered Aelphis in the past. After all, one of his earliest lessons in alchemy and magic involved processing carcasses to their base materials. What made the Faye a bit on-edge, however, was the fact that he recognized some of these bodies. For instance, the Sollan Vagrant he was leaning over!\n\nWait a minute. That guy spilled wine on Aelphis's shoes when they were making their way to their sleeping quarters. Aelphis gave his body a firm kick to the ribs, flinching backwards at the pain of kicking solid steel. Right, he was wearing a breastplate.\n\nWell, between his bruised foot and his aching legs, there was no way Aelphis would catch up to the others in his condition! So instead, he would test his thesis out, procuring the green orb. Thank the Skaelans for their innovation! Thankfully, he didn't even need to come up with some magical mumbo-jumbo like he does with his spells! All he needed to do was focus on the aether held within the orb and...\n\nPoof\n\nWith a puff of purple smoke, Aelphis's very form would change into that of a... toad. Nothing special or fancy, just a toad. On one hand, the shock of your body shifting into something smaller and slimier had induced the Faye into a bit of minor shock, but on the other hand, his feet were in less pain! Well, time to hop on over to the rest!\n\n...\n\nBy the time Aelphis had reached the courtyard, a few people already had their weapons drawn on each other. At first, Aelphis thought more Valheimans were about, and prepared to recite (think very hard on) the incantations needed to turn back to his natural form. It was only after he realized that it was his team against those from the other group that he second-guessed that decision. Were they fighting each other already? And is that their boss over there? Things are looking pretty tense...\n\n... and Aelphis has decided he is not having none of it, today. Instead of making his grand appearance, he would instead hop back into the hallway he was walking from and shift back, peeking over to see what would come about from this encounter.", "username": "Cu Chulainn", "char_name": "Aelphis Vres-Lii" } ]

[ { "text": "Ranbu no Izayoi\n\nYears of training and battlefield experience allowed Izayoi the luxury of keeping an eye on her companions even as she evaded and turned aside the blades of the Valheim soldiers assailing her. The rogue was struggling against even one soldier, but at least he managed to prevail in the end. The raider to her left overcommitted in his strike, and Izayoi took full advantage of his error, narrowly evading to the side before plunging the tip of her blade into his shoulder. \n\nIzayoi frowned as he stumbled back and she was forced to stay on the defense, madly dodging and parrying three more strikes in response. This wasn't so much of a challenge, per se, as it was frustrating. Were she closer to her former speed, these men would be nothing more than rust on her sword by now. But as it stood, she didn't have much of an opening to even cast a Haste spell on herself and approach that level of swiftness. Gods, but her master would be disappointed to see the state Izayoi was in now. \n\nFortunately, the Faye mage proved his worth in short order and electrified every single soldier in the room, save for the one she'd knocked back but moments prior. That soldier seemed to gape at his compatriots being eliminated so easily, but before he could gather himself, Izayoi rushed forward, knocking the man's blade from his hands with her own sword before raising her sandaled foot to kick into his chestplate, knocking him through the door he came through and stumbling out towards the doorway. She didn't let up, leaping forward and slamming the soldier into the hallway, landing with her mounted on top of his prone form, katana pointed at his throat. A quick glance at the surrounding area revealed no immediate threats, and thus she felt secure enough to conduct an impromptu interrogation.\n\n\"Answer well, and you may live to see the morrow.\" Izayoi snarled, the tip of her sword pricking where she knew it would find purchase and drawing blood. \"Where can I find your commanding officer? I would have words with him.\"", "username": "Psyker Landshark", "char_name": "Izayoi Furuya" }, { "text": "Galahad Caradoc\n\n---\n\n\n\nGalahad afforded the others in his room a slight nod as they quickly followed up and dispatched the intruders. They were all strangers, and yet their reactions were fast and effective. Arton had followed him into the fight without a question and their two casters made short work of the rest of their foes once Arton and himself had occupied their attention. From what he could hear out in the hall, it appeared the others, at least in the immediate vicinity were meeting more or less the same success. At the very least their fighting prowess bode well for whatever tasks they may have in the future. There were questions to be had about the security of the castle, but that'd be something up to Leonhart and his guards, not Galahad. \n\nGlancing out of the room towards the three that Neve had knocked out of the room, the appeared to be mostly unconscious, and others were already walking into the hall with them. The red mage poked his head into their room to make comments at his expense. With a shake of his head and a wave of his hand, Galahad more or less dismissed them.\n\n\"This isn't my home, level your complaints at the Leonhart.\" Turning to Arton, Galahad's eyes quickly travelled to their packs of gear and armor, before returning to the broad swordsman. \"Now is a good as time as any to get the rest of your armor on.\"\n\nGalahad himself was currently bereft of his armor, his plates sitting in a neat pile by his bed. Luckily, he was used to putting on his armor by himself at this point, and the armor of the Dragoons was designed to be light enough to be easily donned in a rush. The accents would have to wait, thrown hastily into his waiting pack, but the rest of his armor came on without much difficulty at all. The blue steel of his armor plates shown faintly in the moonlight as he quietly strode out of the room, halberd in hand. \n\nRegarding the three that Neve had thrown against the wall, he prodded one with the butt of his weapon before kicking theirs well out of reach. In the distance, he could hear that one of the Valheim soldiers were already being interrogated.\n\n\"It seems our journey is destined to begin early.\" Galahad mused, kneeling down as he pried the helmet off one of the unconscious Valhiem soldiers. \"Nicely done.\"", "username": "vietmyke", "char_name": null } ]

[ { "text": "---\n\n\n\nFor Éliane, the banquet and reception had been enlightening. The food had been exceptional, if simply for the variety it offered. The bread and the pastries at the end she found wanting, but even she was able to recognize the inherent bias that colored her opinions there. The coffee, on the other hand, was nothing short of fantastic. \n\nWith no one awake, she hummed to herself. \"Coffee~ Coffee~ How I love you so~\" \n\nIt was a pilfered carafe of this god's nectar that Éliane was nursing in her room, slowly caffeinating even as the night drew on. Her three companions had long since gone to bed to rise early on the morrow, and despite the coffee, she would probably soon follow. She really was not the type to contemplate overmuch, but the spectacle that King Leonhardt and his guests gave –and that was all it really was, in her opinion—only served to reduce her opinion of the foreign king. The formation of such hastily assembled teams and the carrot of ten million gil felt to her that the man was simply throwing stuff on a wall and seeing what would stick several months later. If someone like herself could recognize that, then no doubt others had thought the same. It had been entertaining, though. She did like shows.\n\nÉliane and her small delegation of two had come all this way, but she was of half a mind to turn around and go back to Skael. With the resources of her country's scholars, the Garden, and the Household Guards combined, she was confident her countrymen could discover the solution to the Blight, or defeat a harebrained Valheimen scheme if they had been the cause of it like some had suggested, no collaboration with foreigners needed. \n\nIntellectually, she knew that was a stupid opinion, but it was tempting train of thought. She was here as much as an act of diplomacy as much as she still needed to see what was going on, and she would be derelict of duty otherwise. \n\nTaking a last sip of the delectable black beverage, she began to reluctantly set her cup down to change and turn in for the night. Before she finished the motion however, she caught the faint, hasty movement of heavy boots and froze. A Knight returning from the washroom? No, too many footsteps. An Edrenien patrol? Not in these hallways. It could only be…\n\n\"Ambush!\" \n\nÉliane yelled as she lept from her seat, coffee still in her hand as she grabbed her gunblade from the side of her bed. She was just in time for the bedroom door to crash open, revealing armored soldiers with guns pointed into the room. \n\nAn ambush by soldiers of Valheim? How… interesting!\n\nA moment later, the entire room descended into chaos. \n\nThe two gunslingers that had been part of her delegation barely had time to rise and snatch up their weapons before their assailants opened fire. The fourth member of her team, a rogue that they had met in the banquet with the bed closest to the door, had no such luck and had managed to tangle himself in his bedsheets trying to get up before being riddled with bullets. \n\nInstinctively, but with great reluctance, Éliane threw her coffee at the lead soldier, shattering the porcelain against his helmet and forcing him to stagger back into another soldier. It bought just enough time for her side to respond, and soon the small space erupted into a full firefight. Éliane opened up with her gunblade before she moved to close the distance, sticking to the wall as she made a wind-propelled dash to avoid the bulk of the fire being exchanged quarters. A fusillade of lead met the Valheimens, but the same number poured into her allies. She didn't have time to contemplate the result before she made contact with the enemy. \n\nShe shot one in the head at near point blank before pivoting to the side to line up another shot. That too connected, but pinged off the thick point of his armor. Éliane, undeterred, lanced forward and stabbed out at the man's exposed armpit as he turned to respond to the threat. Her gunsabre found purchase, driving deep into his chest before she pulled back with a kick. The soldier staggered back before collapsing to the floor with his heart pierced, joining three others on the ground. The remaining two had been shot dead by her comrades, and the room was now silent…\n\n...Which wasn't good. She turned back to her comrades, grimacing at what she found. Jacques was plain dead, Anne was bleeding out, and the rogue –she'd already forgotten his name—had clearly never gotten out of bed before eating shit. \n\n\"Damn, this sucks,\" she muttered, pausing to collect the rest of her kit before jumping out the door. There were still sounds of fighting outside. Her comrades were a lost cause, but the others weren't. And now she had a score to settle.", "username": "Click This", "char_name": null }, { "text": "𝔏𝔢𝔦𝔣𝔲𝔯 𝔊𝔲ð𝔪𝔲𝔫𝔡𝔰𝔰𝔬𝔫\n__________________________________________________\n\nThe commotion died down - along with the last of the Valheimians - almost as quickly as it had begun. The corridor was filled with smoke, magical residue and the familiar smell of gunpowder, but the clatter of metal had subsided. He could hear people talking. Perhaps not leisurely, but not with particular urgency, either. The others must have made it out without casualties, then. Good.\n\nAs the mage hurried into the hallway, Leifur picked up the rest of his belongings and helped himself into armour. He noted Noelle's injury, but also that it did not seem serious. With a nod, Leifur left her to the room and took in the sight of the bloodied hallway. People had poured out of their rooms and seemed to be standing around, still talking away. Leifur caught the last bits of Zeidgram's words as he joined them. Or at least, he hoped they were the last bits; this was hardly a time for a speech.\n\n\"If we were attacked, others were, as well. This isn't the last of them. Save the chit-chat and move, before the enemy does.\" They'd made an awful lot of noise too, yet there wasn't a sign of a single guard. They must have been fighting elsewhere, long dead, or... well. For this many Valheimians to make it all the way to their chambers without raising alarm, they couldn't discount the possibility of inside help. Perhaps all the way from the top. \"I'm curious to see what has become of Leonhart.\" \n\nEars perked, Leifur started ahead, Gunblade still in hand. He assumed the others would either follow, or keep bickering. Either suited him just fine.", "username": "Vertigo", "char_name": "Leifur Guðmundsson" } ]

[ { "text": "Galahad Caradoc\n\n---\n\n\n\n\"It's just one thing after another it seems.\" Galahad grumbled darkly. They had arrived in the the courtyard just in time to find Leonhart and his guards being attacked by a group of Valheim soldiers. Galahad's legs had tensed, he was about to leap into the air to aid his cousin when another group of adventurers had arrived- seemingly members of Team Unicorn. Galahad was about to commend them on their quick work when one of them leveled their weapon at Neve, their team healer. His hand clenched around his halberd, taking a step forward to say something.\n\nHowever, it appeared others were faster than he- within moments Izayoi and another individual were pointing weapons at one another, while Zeidgram had slammed his weapon into the threatening man- undoubtedly worsening the already hair trigger tensions. Things were spiraling out of control and fast, and knowing how short a few of the tempers in the room were, Galahad feared that things were about to turn deadly.\n\n\"Enough!\" Galahad slammed the butt of his halberd upon a tile on the courtyard, cracking it. His voice boomed through the courtyard, finally taking on the full timbre of his command voice, a far cry from the softer tone he'd been speaking with up until now. Stepping forward slightly, Galahad placed himself in front of their accosted white mage, an arm pushing her behind the bulk of his armor. Notably though, Galahad didn't level his weapon at anyone. The blue armor and Edrenian crest made him look more like a member of Leonhart's personal cohort than it did a passing adventurer. \n\n\"Everyone needs to lower their weapons and take a step back.\" Galahad continued, his voice now returning to its softer tone. \"Tensions are high, people may be hurt. But the Gunbreaker is right, we are supposed to be allies right now. There may still be more valheim in the castle, and we can't afford to be pointing weapons inward, when we should be pointing them outwards.\"\n\nGalahad's helmeted head shifted from the gunbreaker, to the samurai, to the red mage and the blonde. \"If your party has wounded, they should he tended to, but not with threats against the life of our healer. That sounds reasonable enough, doesn't it?\"", "username": "vietmyke", "char_name": null }, { "text": "𝔏𝔢𝔦𝔣𝔲𝔯 𝔊𝔲ð𝔪𝔲𝔫𝔡𝔰𝔰𝔬𝔫\n__________________________________________________\n\nLeifur had yet to get too far from the argument when he heard it wind down. He picked up footsteps; one set, then two. Heavy. Glancing over his shoulder, he found exactly who he'd expected to; Arton and Galahad. Out of everyone present, they were the ones he expected to focus on the mission the most. The viera was about to give the two an acknowledging nod, when he caught Arton murmur something under his breath. It had likely not been meant for him to hear, but few things escaped the sensitive ears of a viera, especially this close by. Furi? A name, most likely. He would commit it to memory, whatever it meant.\n\nGalahad caught up with Arton, and from somewhere behind him, Leifur could hear more footsteps, and then a shout. Butterboy. At least there was no longer a danger of him alerting potential enemies to their presence; the arguing from earlier had already done a fine job at that. \n\nThere seemed to be no danger of such anyway; everyone they met on the corridors was long gone, a victim to a senseless battle. Corpses clad in armour, some with anger or surprise frozen on their faces, some with no discernible faces left at all. They'd been caught in heavy gunfire.\n\n... Gunfire that Leifur could hear once more. He picked up his pace eagerly - not because he'd be excited to spill more blood, or to save someone from having theirs spilled, but because he was curious. He needed to understand how this happened, how so many soldiers made it so far into the castle, especially on a day like this, when security should have been particularly tight. It was inconceivable. \n\nThey arrived to the scene of a battle, catching a glimpse of the king, fighting, when they found themselves at the more unfortunate end of a rifle. Leifur was preparing for a dash, leg muscles tensed, when the members of another team cut down the gunmen - then proceeded to start barking orders and level a weapon at Neve's face, clearly blind to the very visible proof that their team had been fighting as well.\n\nHad the others not been faster, Leifur would've attempted to cleave the man's gunblade in half, maybe an arm to go with it, out of sheer reflex. Thankfully, the urge was quelled by a stalemate, the subsequent breaking of it and then, as usual, Galahad.\n\nLeifur glanced at the Skaelan who'd joined the fray, entirely sure he recognized her. Not from a personal account, but by reputation. It mattered little right now, though; he'd let the others resolve this matter, and move on to another. To the king, unharmed, and his troupe, equally so. \n\n\"A shame to find you without injury,\" Leifur raised his voice upon approach, but not his weapon. He was angry, not a threat looking to be cut down. \"Considering the sorry state of so many of your men - and guests. Slaughtered in your own castle, on the day you threw a feast. Either you're a conspirator, or entirely undeserving of a crown. Explain yourself, and perhaps we'll know which.\"", "username": "Vertigo", "char_name": "Leifur Guðmundsson" } ]

[ { "text": "---\n\n\n\nÉliane didn't usually deal well with threats. Oh, she was absolutely adept at being on the giving end of threats of violence, but the redhead had a very unfortunate tendency to exceptionally escalate in response to being threatened. So, when a pretentious, tarted up fool of a voice from across the courtyard had the gall to scream at her drop her own weapon, she was about to take her would-be victim up on her own offer and blow her away.\n\nShe didn't like being disarmed.\n\nIt was only the intervention of the Dragoon and the Edrenian king himself that the tense standoff eased off as quickly as it had begun. Éliane frowned at the mystel's words, giving her a searching gaze before slowly lowering her own weapon after the samurai had done so as well. \"Is that so,\" she replied mildly, finding a nearby Valheimian corpse to wipe off her blade before finally sheathing it. She considered the woman's words. Normally, Éliane would have dismissed such a thing, but she liked and respected the gall this woman had to give her a recruitment pitch right after Éliane literally had her by the balls. Skael had truly been isolated from the Edrenian-Osprey conflict, but even on the basis of the stories that she had heard of this woman, then she at the very least deserved the respect of a peer in combat, even if the current circumstances were less than ideal.\n\n\"Alright, I'll consider it. Give me just a minute,\" she replied, seriously, as she walked towards the Skaelan team to hear their side of story. She arrived just in time to see the blooded leader of team Unicorn bleating at the man that had threatened her and her countrymen just moments earlier. Still inclined to take the side of her countryman by default, she paused when she saw who she was dealing with and what he had said. \n\nAlright, she had a pretty poor first impression of the other man, but as far as threats and declarations of outrage went, 'Do you know who I am' was a pretty limp-wristed one, especially when she could recognize whose family the Skaelan leader belonged to. They weren't nobodies, but in the grand scheme of Skaelan politics…\n\nShe made up her mind on the situation. She approached the man, made sure he recognized her, and looked him in the eye.\n\n\"Your father will hear of this.\"\n\nThen she made an about face and returned to the former general from Osprey. \"I was strongly considering joining my compatriots, but it is obvious to me now they're led by a fool, and I have no reason to doubt your words,\" she admitted. \"My original team fell to the ambush, so I accept. My apologies for earlier. It wasn't personal.\"\n\nShe held a hand out. \"Éliane Laruelle, of the Household Guards. A rough start, I think, but it'll be a pleasure to work alongside veterans,\" she continued, meeting her eyes before her gaze briefly drifted towards Galahad. Walking to the rest of the team with her, she made the same introduction to the other members before apologizing to the man's victim. \"Let me apologize for my countrymen,\" she said to Neve. \"Not all of us were dropped at birth.\"\n\nShe decided to give her two thoughts on their deliberation. \"If I may, as an outsider,\" she interrupted, \"Considering the illustrious folks that make up this team, I don't see how adhering to a rigid structure of command in this group will work out beyond the short term. The cracks are already forming by just having this conversation. You have a former general, a duke, and a white mage, among those I recognize, and myself, a knight commander. The Divine Mother above knows how badly the clash of wills will be if you don't choose something less than formal.\" Éliane frowned. \n\n\"With how informal the arrangements are, decisions should be elective, rather than resting on a sole point of failure. I'd certainly feel better following a collectively bad decision rather than one decided by the whims of a foreign leader. No offense intended, Lord Caradoc.\"", "username": "Click This", "char_name": null }, { "text": "Ranbu no Izayoi\n\nIzayoi scoffed at the single voice of resistance to her proposal, noting with displeasure that it was the red ponce again. What exactly was this man's issue? At this point, he had to have some sort of idiotic agenda. Still, it seemed that the party was mostly composed of level heads. The viera male assented, and the uniformed Skaelian she'd just recruited did as well, though not without a wrinkle of her own. Elective...leadership? For someone who'd been following orders of some sort or another since the age of eight, the concept was foreign to her. To say nothing of the fact that this Laruelle woman clearly didn't understand Izayoi if she believed that the dragoon's orders would chafe against her. \n\nStill, so long as it put a competent voice in charge of final decisions and left leadership out of her own hands, Izayoi was hardly going to protest against mostly getting what she wanted. \n\n\"Do as you will, then. I have no complaints about your...informal arrangement. Give the dragoon final assent and veto. The man is old enough to have fought in the war, and bears commander's markings as well. Obviously, he was more than competent enough five years ago. His order proved to be more than effective back then. Though if this is how it will be, the remainder of this group ought to say their piece regarding leadership before we turn in for the night.\" She glanced around for a moment, pausing. \"Where is that mage?\" She sighed, before a poof of smoke from beyond the door provided the answer.\n\nIzayoi strode out into the hallway, staring down what was unbeknowst to her, a toad until a few seconds ago. She lifted an eyebrow in Aelphis's direction, looking moderately irritated.\n\n\"The remainder of the group is discussing matters of leadership, if you were listening in. As you are a member, you have the right to say your piece and get this over with already. If you would kindly go in and say something already, I'd like to manage to get even a few hours of sleep tonight before we take to the road.\" She said flatly, her demeanour suggesting that she was about to bodily drag the boy into the hall if he didn't get a move on. \n\nChulainn", "username": "Psyker Landshark", "char_name": "Izayoi Furuya" } ]

[ { "text": "𝔏𝔢𝔦𝔣𝔲𝔯 𝔊𝔲ð𝔪𝔲𝔫𝔡𝔰𝔰𝔬𝔫\n__________________________________________________\n\nThe commotion died down - along with the last of the Valheimians - almost as quickly as it had begun. The corridor was filled with smoke, magical residue and the familiar smell of gunpowder, but the clatter of metal had subsided. He could hear people talking. Perhaps not leisurely, but not with particular urgency, either. The others must have made it out without casualties, then. Good.\n\nAs the mage hurried into the hallway, Leifur picked up the rest of his belongings and helped himself into armour. He noted Noelle's injury, but also that it did not seem serious. With a nod, Leifur left her to the room and took in the sight of the bloodied hallway. People had poured out of their rooms and seemed to be standing around, still talking away. Leifur caught the last bits of Zeidgram's words as he joined them. Or at least, he hoped they were the last bits; this was hardly a time for a speech.\n\n\"If we were attacked, others were, as well. This isn't the last of them. Save the chit-chat and move, before the enemy does.\" They'd made an awful lot of noise too, yet there wasn't a sign of a single guard. They must have been fighting elsewhere, long dead, or... well. For this many Valheimians to make it all the way to their chambers without raising alarm, they couldn't discount the possibility of inside help. Perhaps all the way from the top. \"I'm curious to see what has become of Leonhart.\" \n\nEars perked, Leifur started ahead, Gunblade still in hand. He assumed the others would either follow, or keep bickering. Either suited him just fine.", "username": "Vertigo", "char_name": "Leifur Guðmundsson" }, { "text": "Location: Balmung Castle | HallwayMentions: N/A\n\n\n\n---\n\n\nArton, now properly equipped in layers of armor, took position on the party's flank. His eyes flicked from corner to corner, door to door, anticipating an enemy to appear at any moment. The focus kept him distracted from anything else...save for the conversation the Valheimian's yelling brought to his attention. The tone of Ranbu's voice were enough of a hint as to what was coming. The thud of her boot across his face hit his ears before he had turned around. Virulent hatred laced every one of her words. It was not ignorant, mindless rage but a directed, powerful anger earned from trauma. His brows furrowed and lips curled as the man's life was ended, executed like an animal. It was one matter to take down an opponent in combat, but to end someone you had disarmed and taken prisoner? \n\n\"That's the plan? Slaughter to the last man without exception?\" No attempt to hide his irritation was made. Zeidgram, expectedly, was quick to chime in and put his own thoughts into words better than Arton could. He gritted his teeth, grip tightening on his shield. Valheim was still the enemy in this situation. Nothing would come of getting into an struggle with his own ally. Arton, however, would remember this \"Leifur's right, there are others who need our help.\" Arton glanced over at Galahad trying to gauge his reaction, before deciding to follow Leifur wherever he was going.\n\nPeace. Was it such a distant reality? How much more did he have to lose before he could grasp a sliver of it? Proof that it could even be possible. Arton was determined to fight for it and save as many as he could along the way \"Furi....\" He spoke under his breath. Wherever she was, maybe just maybe this journey would be enough to pay her back.", "username": "Ithradine", "char_name": "Arton Yule" }, { "text": "Galahad Caradoc\n\n---\n\n\n\nGalahad sighed as he watched the various personalities clash before him- perhaps he'd spoken too soon, maybe while his own little room seemed to mesh well enough, it wasn't a proper representation of the party as a whole. While Izayoi was living up to her name and taking lives, Arton had not taken particularly well to it. The viera seemed to wish to help the others, while the red mage seemed to wish to leave altogether, seemingly taunting them into following him. Galahad made eye contact with Arton and nodded to the man before the sollan went to follow the gunbreaker. With a short sigh, Galahad figured he'd might as well voice his own opinions as well.\n\n\"I'll not leave while people are in danger. Leifur is right, the enemy- and likely their leader are still somewhere within these walls.\" Galahad sounded off, \"Most curious that they decide to attack once Leonhart has decided that he wishes to end the blight- perhaps the Valheim do have something to do with it after all.\"\n\nReadying his halberd, Galahad rolled his shoulders and went to move with Arton and Leifur, his armor clicking lightly as he moved. Pausing in front of Neve, Galahad placed a light hand on the healer's shoulder. \"Its safer in numbers, let us go.\" He said to her as he picked up his pace to catch up with the other warriors. His eyes caught the prone form of a castle guard, dead at his post. The Valheim soldiers had moved fast- faster than anyone could've reacted. Where did they come from- perhaps they were seeded in the ranks of the adventurers come to take up the call? At the very least most of those with him seemed trustworthy- or at least not visibly in league with Valheim.\n\nA solid hand clapped Arton's shoulder, behind his visored helmet, Galahad nodded at him. \"The halls of the castle are narrow, but my halberd can reach past your shoulders. Keep your shield arm steady, and we'll form a wall to protect the others.\"", "username": "vietmyke", "char_name": null } ]

[ { "text": "Gotham Knights\nA Batman RP\n\n\n\nEarth 504\n\n10 March 1954\nGotham City, Night\n\nThe Lenape were supposed to have said that there was an evil power that lived on the three islands on the coast. The Danes paid no need to the savages' tales, they only saw three islands and a fine harbor, and there they built the settlement of Christiansted. The English did not care either, and took it for themselves during the Dutch Wars. They renamed it Gotham, the village where supposedly all the men had lost their minds. The Lenape knew better. They knew that when night fell, the evil spirits had free reign.\n\n\n\n---\n\n\n\nOld Gotham\nNorth Island\n\n\n\n\nTwo telephone calls had been placed, one to the Gotham City police, the other to the police in Blüdhaven. The callers' message was simple: John Howell, chairman of Howell Chemical, his wife, and two daughters had been kidnapped from their mansion in Blüdhaven, were being held hostage by the Scarecrow and the Mad Hatter in an abandoned warehouse in Gotham and would be killed if they did not receive $200,000. If anyone other than Commissioner Gordon with the ransom money was seen near the two-story brick warehouse, the hostages would be killed. The police complied, but Nightwing, Batgirl, and Catwoman did not. \n\n\n\n---\n\n\n\nAbandoned Dockyards\nSouth Island\n\n\n\n\nShips came into and departed Gotham harbor night and day, carrying both legal and illegal cargoes. The ones carrying more illicit materials frequently came in the night, docking at shadowy piers, unloading their cargoes of drugs, firearms, and occasionally humans. For several nights, the smuggling freighters and the warehouses they used to store their goods had been suffering from robberies and strange fires. The witnesses had described their attackers as wearing purple wetsuits and SCUBA gear - a clear sign Sea Fox had formed a new gang for herself and returned to Gotham to plunder Gotham's illegal trade. \n\nBatman had been spending several nights staking out the waterfront, but in his absence, he had left Robin and Black Bat to watch the docks. They were there to observe, but in the event Sea Fox struck with her gang, they were allowed to bring on a fight and try to apprehend them, provided they were not overly outnumbered. \n\nA freighter had arrived the previous night, bringing a cache of heroin for the Penguin, and now it was a matter of whether Sea Fox would attack the warehouse to make a robbery. The night was dark, and fog hung over the docks - perfect weather to avoid being seen. The stakeout had been uneventful thus far, when the faint sound of water lapping could be heard. It was a small motorboat pulling up to the docks. It was painted matte black, with lights darkened and engine muffled - whoever it was, they didn't want to be seen. Seven figures, a mix of men and women, wearing wetsuits and carrying Tommy guns, jumped from the boat to the pier, heading toward the warehouse. Within a few minutes, they had broken through the locks on the door, and were inside. The Sea Fox had struck.", "username": "Fingal", "char_name": null }, { "text": "---\n\n\n\n\n\n---\n\n\n\nAbandoned Dockyards - South Island\n\n\nInteractions: Robin - @KaliW\n\n\nCassandra Cain watched and listened, taking in everything she could, atop a building, looking down at the Penguin's warehouse. Shrouded by fog and night, she could observe unseen. The color of ships passing through the harbor, the windows of the building, and the blindspots people could have looking out from inside, the gait of every stranger hobbling through the dead of night. Her eyes were particularly skilled at taking in body language, the angle of their steps, the strength of the postures, and all the tiny ways they distinguished their movement from others. Anything could be useful in toppling another person—in killing another person. It is what she'd been trained to do all those years ago by her father. She had to find weaknesses, missteps, minute particularities that could be manipulated for her own success.\n\nShe watched a lone dockworker smoking a cigarette, looking out over the warehouse and slowly pacing. Before he finished and walked back inside a building, she'd figured out that he was left-handed but had a weak right knee based on his slight limp. By the way he tossed the cigarette in the ocean, he seemed careless and overconfident. He had broad shoulders, and she could imagine him throwing a massive left hook at her. She could duck beneath, then topple him with a swift kick to the weak leg, then pin him down against the dock and stomp him in the back of the neck—\n\nShe was getting ahead of herself. Whenever she looked at someone, tactical possibilities spiraled from their every movement. Their fight or flight instincts, their Achilles' Heels, in her mind, humans become objects to destroy. It all came cascading unless she tried hard to stop the instinctual flow of information. It was a skill necessary for survival, but one that had made her a weapon, cold and guarded. The others knew that. She wondered if they feared her.\n\nCassandra glanced at Robin. Did he fear her? She was not a detective like him. She was trying to gather info, but it all felt bloodthirsty, art-less. She couldn't see the deep intentions or emotions in others, seek clues, and weave together conspiracies as he could. She just saw the pure movements, postures, the possibilities, and she used them in the moment to break those she needed to. Even looking at him, her mind raced with the ways she could beat him in combat. But through the night, she did not voice these concerns. She did not fidget, she did not pace around, and she barely even spoke to him except for brief questions or confirmations. But she couldn't deny that she felt nervous, yearning to understand him.\n\nThe silence of the night was interrupted by muffled, but still audible noise. Cassandra felt her muscles tense immediately, and she shifted from her crouching position upwards but still hidden. The Sea Foxes crew moved quickly. She scanned seven figures hustling, men and woman, armed and dangerous. Seven versus two? That might have seemed daunting for others but as they busted through the locks and made their way inside, Cassandra Cain saw much just from a few seconds of observation. She could make a good guess on who was leading by the way the formation bent to heed the quiet gestures of the figure in the center. She noted builds, bodyweights, and dominant hands, all that she was trained to do. But it wasn't enough from afar. She hoped Robin would keep track of the rest. Up close, she would become much more effective. Up close, she could decimate.\n\nShe looked at him from behind her Black Bat mask, poising herself ready to leap down. She would enter through a side window to apprehend the crooks, he would take the route that he prepared. But she needed him to confirm that they were ready to engage with at least seven dangerous individuals in a split-second.\n\n\"Ready. Now?\"\n\nCassandra Cain was ready.", "username": "scrawls", "char_name": "Cassandra Cain" }, { "text": "From the inside of the warehouse, there came a hissing sound. Through the greasy windows, a purple cloud was expanding through the building, and shouts of surprise from the few workers inside. The Sea Fox and her gang were using some kind of gas to take them out.", "username": "Fingal", "char_name": null } ]

[ { "text": "Mamjir gazed upon the gathering crowd of the port. It appeared he hadn't been as early as he intended. He had been in this city for about 2 days, exploring it with great wonder when he had word of the MILOV's short arrival. He eagerly awaited its coming, hopefully, he would be able to join the crew and help them using his immense strength. The built-up sandstone was slowly chipping away from the Shedohr's exterior to reveal the dull steel underneath.\n\nHis time in the desert city of Karbarah physically and mentally affected him, and even though the physical effect may be wearing off, the mental one was not. He had bathed in the beauty and wonder of the city. The brutal adrenaline of the fighting pits where he had sadly remained unbested, fighting great beasts brought into the area to face him and attempt to demolish him. He had enjoyed the city immensely but had decided to move on after a good while. He traveled westward, to the city he was now standing in.\n\nHe had found himself at the back of the throng, not wanting yet to barge through and interrupt the locals he waited, looking around. He glanced down at the small woman he had found himself next to. He tried to make his towering stature slightly smaller so as not to intimidate her before he engaged in conversation. Due to his lack of a face, he struggled to convey the good-naturedness of his intentions, so instead, he made do with a small friendly wave. Spreading out his massive oversized palm (nearly the size of the poor woman's face) and rocking it back and forth by her.\n\n\"Hello my friend, I am Mamjir, Warden of Iron. Pleasure to meet you.\" He sang out, his voice was melodic and ethereal. So deep you could almost hear the undertones of humming machinery in your bones. \"I'm here on business with the MILOV, are you?\"", "username": "PerfectThought", "char_name": "Mamjir" }, { "text": "All the while, a blonde haired man was taking a nap in the small corner of the dock, his head pillowed by his own bag of food, clothes, utensils and other essentials, desperately trying to recover from his sleepiness the previous night due to being kicked out of the park. Thanks a lot loitering laws! But to be fair, he was being a little petty with his money. Upon realizing the MILOV was arriving in Kallokain, Bactrie did not want to miss it, and so he quit his job and departed at the eve of the week and crossed the land, taking in all the traffic and potential hiccups along the way. But everything went a little bit too smoothly. The carriage driver that took him there seemed to have a sudden injection of hustling motivation or something, taking him right to his intended destination way sooner than expected. And thus he was sort of stuck in the city waiting for the airship for a night, which to him was a bit too short to worth an inn room, and so the bench it was. Somehow he didn't get found this time.\n\nBactrie gave out a long yawn before looking around for any time indications. It looked like it was probably about time. Hopefully he was sober enough for his new employment, not only to create good impressions, but also that he was hired probably because he was to help pilot the ship. There's no way a sleepy pilot is a good one. \n\nThe atmosphere of the docking bay was much busier than in the inner city, surprisingly enough. But it made sense. This was a window to the world, and the world is more interconnected than it used to be centuries ago, so people were just doing things that were natural. But naturally it dynamically partitioned the dock into pretty recognizable groups. Upon swinging around eavesdropping near each group made it clear why they were there, one in particular were two individuals sitting in a wagon nearby. One older gentleman and a goblin girl. He tried to not pay attention to their bantering, but upon hearing that she was getting up there, the blonde man turned around in curiosity. \n\n\"Hi there you two.\" Bactrie waved at them with a friendly smile. \"Are you here for MILOV, may I ask?\"", "username": "Conscripts", "char_name": "Bactrie Atchison" }, { "text": "Arzhang's journey to Kallokian had been a long and grueling one. He had traveled for days on end, battling against the elements, and struggling to keep himself and his caravan alive. The bandits on the road were just the icing on the cake. It was a miracle that he had managed to outsmart them and keep his belongings. He had been fortunate enough to have some tricks up his sleeve, and he was able to convince the bandits that he had nothing of value to offer them.\n\nAs he arrived in the city, Arzhang was immediately struck by the crowds and the noise. It was all too common and unremarkable. He couldn't help but feel a bit nauseous as he navigated the bustling trade center with its six docking bays. It was a far cry from the exotic, mystical places he had imagined in his dreams. Kallokian was just like any other trade center, with nothing particularly remarkable about it.\n\nArzhang had heard about the Milov airship and thought it might offer some excitement, something he desperately craved in this dreary city. He had grown tired of the mundane, monotonous routine of life on the road, and he longed for something new and exciting. Perhaps the airship was just what he needed to inject some excitement into his life. As he walked towards the docking bays, he couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation. He was eager to see what awaited him on the airship and what adventures he would embark on.\n\nThe young demon arrived at the docks and noticed a large crowd gathering near the docking bay. He wondered what could be causing such a commotion, but he didn't feel the need to join the crowd and find out. Instead, he leaned against a nearby wall and began to think about his decision to come to Kallokian.\n\nHe had hoped that joining the Milov airship crew would bring him excitement and adventure, but so far, he had only faced hardship and disappointment. Arzhang knew that the work on the airship would be difficult and demanding, but he was willing to do whatever it took to make a name for himself in this world. As he stood there lost in thought, the noise and bustle of the docks began to fade away. Arzhang was determined to make the most of his opportunity on the Milov airship, but he couldn't help but wonder if he had made the right choice.", "username": "KaliW", "char_name": "Arzhang Deko" }, { "text": "Gregor and Savva turn towards the young man calling them, then Gregor nodded.\n\n\"I've got a clock for shipment,\" the clockmaker replied, \"Do you know when the Milov will arrive?\"\n\n\"What's that on your head?\" The goblin lass asked, pointing. \"Why does your hat have glass like that?", "username": "Expendable", "char_name": "Savva" } ]

[ { "text": "Mamjir gazed upon the gathering crowd of the port. It appeared he hadn't been as early as he intended. He had been in this city for about 2 days, exploring it with great wonder when he had word of the MILOV's short arrival. He eagerly awaited its coming, hopefully, he would be able to join the crew and help them using his immense strength. The built-up sandstone was slowly chipping away from the Shedohr's exterior to reveal the dull steel underneath.\n\nHis time in the desert city of Karbarah physically and mentally affected him, and even though the physical effect may be wearing off, the mental one was not. He had bathed in the beauty and wonder of the city. The brutal adrenaline of the fighting pits where he had sadly remained unbested, fighting great beasts brought into the area to face him and attempt to demolish him. He had enjoyed the city immensely but had decided to move on after a good while. He traveled westward, to the city he was now standing in.\n\nHe had found himself at the back of the throng, not wanting yet to barge through and interrupt the locals he waited, looking around. He glanced down at the small woman he had found himself next to. He tried to make his towering stature slightly smaller so as not to intimidate her before he engaged in conversation. Due to his lack of a face, he struggled to convey the good-naturedness of his intentions, so instead, he made do with a small friendly wave. Spreading out his massive oversized palm (nearly the size of the poor woman's face) and rocking it back and forth by her.\n\n\"Hello my friend, I am Mamjir, Warden of Iron. Pleasure to meet you.\" He sang out, his voice was melodic and ethereal. So deep you could almost hear the undertones of humming machinery in your bones. \"I'm here on business with the MILOV, are you?\"", "username": "PerfectThought", "char_name": "Mamjir" }, { "text": "All the while, a blonde haired man was taking a nap in the small corner of the dock, his head pillowed by his own bag of food, clothes, utensils and other essentials, desperately trying to recover from his sleepiness the previous night due to being kicked out of the park. Thanks a lot loitering laws! But to be fair, he was being a little petty with his money. Upon realizing the MILOV was arriving in Kallokain, Bactrie did not want to miss it, and so he quit his job and departed at the eve of the week and crossed the land, taking in all the traffic and potential hiccups along the way. But everything went a little bit too smoothly. The carriage driver that took him there seemed to have a sudden injection of hustling motivation or something, taking him right to his intended destination way sooner than expected. And thus he was sort of stuck in the city waiting for the airship for a night, which to him was a bit too short to worth an inn room, and so the bench it was. Somehow he didn't get found this time.\n\nBactrie gave out a long yawn before looking around for any time indications. It looked like it was probably about time. Hopefully he was sober enough for his new employment, not only to create good impressions, but also that he was hired probably because he was to help pilot the ship. There's no way a sleepy pilot is a good one. \n\nThe atmosphere of the docking bay was much busier than in the inner city, surprisingly enough. But it made sense. This was a window to the world, and the world is more interconnected than it used to be centuries ago, so people were just doing things that were natural. But naturally it dynamically partitioned the dock into pretty recognizable groups. Upon swinging around eavesdropping near each group made it clear why they were there, one in particular were two individuals sitting in a wagon nearby. One older gentleman and a goblin girl. He tried to not pay attention to their bantering, but upon hearing that she was getting up there, the blonde man turned around in curiosity. \n\n\"Hi there you two.\" Bactrie waved at them with a friendly smile. \"Are you here for MILOV, may I ask?\"", "username": "Conscripts", "char_name": "Bactrie Atchison" }, { "text": "Arzhang's journey to Kallokian had been a long and grueling one. He had traveled for days on end, battling against the elements, and struggling to keep himself and his caravan alive. The bandits on the road were just the icing on the cake. It was a miracle that he had managed to outsmart them and keep his belongings. He had been fortunate enough to have some tricks up his sleeve, and he was able to convince the bandits that he had nothing of value to offer them.\n\nAs he arrived in the city, Arzhang was immediately struck by the crowds and the noise. It was all too common and unremarkable. He couldn't help but feel a bit nauseous as he navigated the bustling trade center with its six docking bays. It was a far cry from the exotic, mystical places he had imagined in his dreams. Kallokian was just like any other trade center, with nothing particularly remarkable about it.\n\nArzhang had heard about the Milov airship and thought it might offer some excitement, something he desperately craved in this dreary city. He had grown tired of the mundane, monotonous routine of life on the road, and he longed for something new and exciting. Perhaps the airship was just what he needed to inject some excitement into his life. As he walked towards the docking bays, he couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation. He was eager to see what awaited him on the airship and what adventures he would embark on.\n\nThe young demon arrived at the docks and noticed a large crowd gathering near the docking bay. He wondered what could be causing such a commotion, but he didn't feel the need to join the crowd and find out. Instead, he leaned against a nearby wall and began to think about his decision to come to Kallokian.\n\nHe had hoped that joining the Milov airship crew would bring him excitement and adventure, but so far, he had only faced hardship and disappointment. Arzhang knew that the work on the airship would be difficult and demanding, but he was willing to do whatever it took to make a name for himself in this world. As he stood there lost in thought, the noise and bustle of the docks began to fade away. Arzhang was determined to make the most of his opportunity on the Milov airship, but he couldn't help but wonder if he had made the right choice.", "username": "KaliW", "char_name": "Arzhang Deko" } ]

[ { "text": "Savva yawns, idly kicking her heels in the seat of the wagon. \n\n\"We've been here for hours,\" she moans, \"When are they going to get here?\"\n\"Soon,\" Gregor shrugs, stifling a yawn of his own. \n\n\"So,\" Savva drawls, leaning forward to stare at her boots, \"Do you think they're hire me?\"\n\"Well, the notice said they were looking for more crew, and I've trained you well.\"\n\"But I'm a goblin.\"\n\"Really, I hadn't noticed.\"\n\"Hah hah,\" the goblin girl scowls. \"I know what the villagers think about me. What if the captain decides they don't want a goblin on board?\"\n\"Well,\" Gregor points, \"There's one over there. Perhaps he's looking for a job, too.\"\n\nSavva looks in the direction Gregor was pointing, then sighs, resting her chin on her fist. \"Oh, great. They're not going to want a boy and a girl goblin on board.\"\n\"Oh? Why not?\"\n\"You know why not,\" the goblin grumbles. \"They'll think we'll sneak off and be, you know...?\"\n\"You know, what?\" Gregor asks, glancing at her as her face became a darker shade of green.\n\"Doing boy-girl stuff,\" she huffs hotly, turning her head away. \"Like those old biddies back in town say.\"\n\"You shouldn't listen to what they say....\"\n\"They shouldn't be saying it!\" Savva hisses. \n\n\"Savva,\" the clockmaker shakes his head, \"Don't give up before they get here. You're a good mechanic and a good girl.\"\n\"But, I....\"\n\"You were forced to do that, to protect me. The fault lies with them.\"", "username": "Expendable", "char_name": "Savva" }, { "text": "Hurried steps clacked on the cobblestoned road as Katja Veniro rushed through the upper parts of the city. She let out a sigh before catching her breath and realized she was utterly lost. Losing one selfs direction was common when just arriving at a new place, but Katja could swear she had a knack for it anyways. The streets were filled with people going about their day, one of which she approached hurriedly. She had spotted an older man with kind eyes who seemed to know the ins and outs of the city's layout.\n\n\"Excuse me, Sir, I seem to have taken a wrong turn and am lost. Might you tell me where I can find Docking bay 3?\" She asked and bowed slightly. She did not know the customs of this foreign city so she thought it best to act as courteously as possible.\nThe older man simply stared for a moment before bursting out in a wheezing chuckle, \n\"Yer not from around 'ere ey wee lass? I agree that our city be mighty grand, but ye do realize you could walk in any direction an' end up in one of the ports. From there, ye simply follow the edge of the city until ye find it. And no need to be so proper lass!\" The man scratched his ear and grinned\nKatja smiled, slightly flustered as the simple solution was to have just done what the man had suggested from the start, but she figured that she had shed too much time.\n\"I'm afraid I do not have much time to wander and as such, could you be so kind as to point me in the direction of the docking bay?\" she asked again swiftly. The older man simply pointed behind him, \n\"Tis' right down the hill over 'ere. Just continue runnin' forward and you'll find it.\"\nKatja bowed slightly again and headed off, the hilt rustling against her backpack filled with the essentials.\n\nAs she ran down the cobbled hill, she could see a single ray of sunlight shining through a newly formed hole in the cloud cover above. It was then she noticed the large airship, the MILOV. She stood still for a moment, feeling her heartbeat as both excitement and a hint of fear filled her. It would seem that many more than her had noticed the arrival of the aerial vessel as streams of townsfolk rushed past her in an attempt to reach docking bay 3. Katja quickly followed the stream down, ending up at the back of the crowd which hindered any further attempt to reach the docking bay. She stood on her toes trying to see ahead as the bustling crowds cheered at the new arrivals. Deciding she had no other choice, she squeezed through the small gaps between people, uttering quiet apologies such as \"Excuse me\" and \"Forgive me but I must pass\". Finally coming out at the end of the gathering, she fell onto her knees before looking up in awe at the MILOV which practically shone in the radiant light.", "username": "Periodity", "char_name": "The crew" } ]