[Nexus] GLoG 81: Ghostbusters!

[Reinholdt]

{Island Cave}

"Blech. Some sort of trick in the room. Least it's not a neverending maze where you have to choose the right directions each time." Vincent says, turning around to go fight another group of fishmen and clear the room to better look at it.

[Lakeshore]

"Well I'm out of ideas." Reinholdt admits. It was what he was trying to help Aiden with.

[Mr. Moon]

Spoiler

Show

All sorts, but mostly by giving shelter and aid for those who have nowhere else to go. We also frequently house refugees, Reelshka explains. Oh, and we have a well-equipped infirmary that's available for everyone.

The orc is silent for a few moments as he considers this. Is he dissapointed? A little bit, but not a lot. He'd suspected this was a pacifistic organization early on. But he could still make use of it, if not what use he'd hoped for. Access to a healer was always useful. And what else was he but someone with nowhere else to go?

And maybe... "That so? What's your infirmary capable of?"

[happyturtle]

Storytime!

Spoiler

Show

[Story Time!]

Freddy listens to the story, flicking his ear every now and again whenever Lily pokes at it. Hopefully she won't decide that this is silly enough to continue doing for an extended period of time. That might get bothersome.

The story is kind of... strange to him. Back home death had always been a part of the world. Ever since the Emperor and the Huntress had created it. Death was just the boatman who took people to their final destination, whether into the bleak black heavens or the warm embrace of the earth.

Sure you miss people when they die. But there's always the chance to see them agai-

Oh... yeah...

The Huldra's ears droop as he slumps a bit. He's a beast of Discord now. He'll never walk the streets of the Golden City. And he'll probably never get to see his sister, either. She had been so young... she's probably finished with her penance in the Emperor's Refinery already...

Aww...

Now Freddy is sad... Someone should give him pets.

Lucky for Freddy Lily is already giving him pets.

In between giving Kashi pets.

And eating. She's a growing halfling after all. Her appetite is bigger than she is.

[Devixer]

[Lakeshore]

"Thanks anyway, talking cat. I'll find something. Got out of drugs and alcohol, I think I can get out of poverty."

[Lex-Kat]

{Island Cave}

So after the fifth fight, after which Caroline goes up another level, they now have 15 Fish Scale Armors, 5 Rods of Ice, and 1500 gp.

Now that they have gone back, then forward again, Vincent will see a "hidden" door that most definitely was not there before.

[Reinholdt]

[Lakeshore]

"Right. Good luck with that then." Reinholdt says, having the exact opposite problem.

{Island Cave}

"Well... huh." Least some of those fights weren't a waste.

Through the secret door!

[Lex-Kat]

{Island Cave}

Cut Scene!

They find the typical old man, long white hair, face so wrinkled that he looks like her's perpetually squinting, big bushy eyebrows. He's sitting on a comfy looking couch, facing away from the door watching what looks like a big screen teevee.

As our heroes walk closer, they'll see that he's playing a video game. A young elf boy with a huge sword and a nymph babe carrying a torch walk into a cave facing the back of an old man, playing a video game.

The Carolines gasps. That's us!

The Old Man, both on the screen and in front of them, turns to face them. Oh ho ho ho!! You've found my sanctuary.

[Devixer]

[Lakeshore]

"Yeah, thanks." Aiden won't carry the conversation any further, and gets back to walking around the lake.

[Reinholdt]

{Island Cave}

Oh. Oh! This is the part in the game where Vincent pretends they aren't in a game and is totally shocked.

"What's going on here?!"

He'd much prefer to just ask the old man if his name is Oz, but doesn't want to break character.

[Rebonack]

[Storytime]

Pets and food and food and pets!

The Huldra seems comforted by the little girl. Bring his mind back to the present and what good things he has in the here and now rather than dwelling on what's lost. No reason to sulk! The Emperor still has something for him to do!

Just...

No idea what...

But surely that will become clear with time.

Freddy glances back at Lily and asks, "Did you like the story? Have you heard any like this one before?"

[Lex-Kat]

{Island Cave}

Oh. Oh! This is the part in the game where Vincent pretends they aren't in a game and is totally shocked.

"What's going on here?!"

He'd much prefer to just ask the old man if his name is Oz, but doesn't want to break character.

Just sitting down, playing my favorite game. The characters keep me amuzed.

But more importantly, can I help you? He leans forward.

Caroline can't keep her eyes off the characters on the screen.

[happyturtle]

Storytime

"Pathfinder used to tell us stories when we were locked up together and Waterstrider did too, but Pathfinder knows more of them because he's a shaman and Waterstrider is a savage. But when he told us stories then he didn't look all scary and spooky or turn into smoke and there weren't spirits there, unless they were invisible because the horse man and the dark woman did magic to keep him from talking to spirits and we were kept in cages and it was really mean and we never had enough to eat and we had to use a bucket instead of a toilet and sometimes they hit us and then Pathfinder and Waterstrider would do whatever they said to make them stop, and they promised they would protect us and that it would be okay, and now it is!" Lily says.

Well that explains everything, doesn't it?

[Rebonack]

[Story Time]

Well of course.

The Huldra flicks one of his ears.

Quirks his head off to the side a little.

"My... I suspect your story is a lot more interesting than mine is," he muses. "Though maybe a little more sad."

People putting children in cages and beating them sounds terrible.

Slaves, really?

Why would anyone need slaves when they have hard working peasants to till their land for them? That's just crazy.

"Well I'm glad you're here instead of in a cage."

[Reinholdt]

{Island Cave}

Just sitting down, playing my favorite game. The characters keep me amuzed.

But more importantly, can I help you? He leans forward.

Caroline can't keep her eyes off the characters on the screen.

[Island Cave]

"Well, I should hope so. We're looking for someone to tell me to grow up."
... Don't you mean whether you should grow up there Vincent? Way to be biased.

[happyturtle]

Storytime!

Spoiler

Show

[Story Time]

Well of course.

The Huldra flicks one of his ears.

Quirks his head off to the side a little.

"My... I suspect your story is a lot more interesting than mine is," he muses. "Though maybe a little more sad."

People putting children in cages and beating them sounds terrible.

Slaves, really?

Why would anyone need slaves when they have hard working peasants to till their land for them? That's just crazy.

"Well I'm glad you're here instead of in a cage."

"Me too! And I'm going to learn how to fight so I never ever get locked up again, and when I grow up, I'm going to become a Wolfen like Renetta did! And then I want to marry Pathfinder but he might marry Brinika's aunt Reelshka first and I don't know who I'll marry then, but Pathfinder promised it would be okay so maybe he knows another Wolfen that I can marry, but I don't know if I'll love him as much as I love Pathfinder and Waterstrider." Lily says.

[Morty]

The orc is silent for a few moments as he considers this. Is he dissapointed? A little bit, but not a lot. He'd suspected this was a pacifistic organization early on. But he could still make use of it, if not what use he'd hoped for. Access to a healer was always useful. And what else was he but someone with nowhere else to go?

And maybe... "That so? What's your infirmary capable of?"

Reelshka's long ears twitch.
It's pretty well-equipped and we have competent medics. Why do you ask? Are you injured?

Brinika, meanwhile, seems to show interest in the big fox Lily is talking to. She scuttles over to him and runs a hand through his fur. Hi! I'm Brinika!

[Rebonack]

[Storytime]

My my!

Doesn't this little girl have far-reaching plans?

"I'm sure you'll be very fierce, Lily," Freddy replies.

A beat.

"Wait. Someone here at Glog had their race changed? From something else into a Wolfen?" he's starting to sound kind of excited here! "Do you think it might be possible that I could be made human again? Have this curse removed?"

Because not being a Huldra anymore would be great!

He's not so sure he would be keen on being a wolf-person though. But if worse comes to worse at least he wouldn't be nomming souls.

And then petting! The Huldra feels warm. Like a big fur rug that's been sitting in front of a fireplace. He's doesn't object to the contact at all. In fact he welcomes it. The demon fox is far too afraid of his hunger to let adults touch him. But children? He doesn't have to worry about harming children.

He offers Brininka a foxy grin. "Good evening M'lady. You may call me Freddy if you wish. Are you enjoying the story? And would you like to climb onto the blanket? There's still plenty of room."

[happyturtle]

Storytime

"Mhm, it was Renetta. She used to be an elf and now she's part elf and part Wolfen because the Dawn Wolf did it so that she and Waterstrider and Flamecrest could be a family and all be the same. I bet the Dawn Wolf can change you too, cause Pathfinder told us lots of stories about her, and she's the mother of all the Wolfen and takes care of them, and you kind of look like a wolf, so she probably will take care of you too!" Lily says. "Hi Brinika! This is Freddy! And look! I found a dragon!"

[Slii Arhem]

Storytime!

Kashi sulks a bit at being ignored by the tiny little goblin girl, but halfling pets make everything better.

And halfling foods. While he waits for the story to start up again, Kashi grabs another random cut of meat from the basket to nom, starting up his coin and gem production again. It's much more visible now that he's eating properly, so Freddy, Brinika, and Lily can probably watch the process as he sweats out a few coins, a pearl necklace, and a fat ruby about the size of a thumbnail right before their eyes.

The ash sprites can watch too, and marvel at the provider of noms.

[Mina Kobold]

Lucy and Bill~
That just causes more blushes.
"Ra rara raaaaaaaaa rara."*
*Yes, I do believe that they have vacant living spaces here, but...I doubt anyone is up at this time of night...

Lucy immediately looks to the sky.

"My word, it is quite late. Is it not?"

Nodding stoically, the undead nurse continues.

"Then I presume we shall have to make camp or wait till morning."

[Rebonack]

[Story Time]

...

Treasure is falling out of the dragon as he eats stuff. That's really weird. And it would probably depreciate the value of treasure quite a bit. That's why Random Encounters don't give out real gold and gems!

Just for show you see.

Anywho!

Fredrick smiles somewhat sheepishly. "Ah, well, I don't think foxes and wolves get along very well. Traditionally speaking."

Given that wolves are quite happy to eat foxes.

"But maybe. If I got turned into something else then I wouldn't need to eat ghosts anymore. But... I'm not sure if this Dawn Wolf person's power would be able to overcome Discord..."

[Morty]

[Story Time]

First a big fox, and now a dragon! Too much for the tiny goblin with a notoriously short attention span. She spins around and looks at Kashi with wide eyes.
Woooow. A dragon? I had no idea dragons were real!

[Slii Arhem]

Rowan Cabin

Now Cessie looks really awkward, money was not a subject she should talk about, it just looked like she was bragging. "Yes, that might be but you seem to be doing fine on your own. Children need a personal touch after all. Can't let anyone raise them. Sakura and you both seem to be doing a pretty good job, I probably need to hire someone for that." She jokes with a faint smile. The truth was of course that she really worried she would need someone like that.

Rowan Cabin

Julie scoffs, "Trust me, if there's anyone more unsuited to raising a child than me, I couldn't name them. Once you've got some rules set down for yourself, like always make sure their heads are well protected, and stay near them in case of crying, you'll get the hang of it." That mothering instinct is present even in succubi it seems. Julie doesn't really believe Cessie's serious about her concerns, but that's mostly because she's blanked out the part of her memory that covered her own little emotional freakouts about becoming a single mother.

[Chaotic Bob]

Spoiler

Show

Storytime!

Huh. It's not flailing. Oh dear, the Dragonite is doing something mean isn't he? He should really let the little fella go- Story!

Without thinking his antenae will try to scoop the dust sprite up as he turns his head to the show. If he fails he certainly wont stop the little guy from going about flailing. He listens to the story closely, but follows the visuals much better. The mythology was very different from what he personally knew, but the concepts were something that connected to him personally. Harmony and balance are sort of ingrained in pokemon.

Storytime!

Kashi peers at the ashlings curiously as the story goes on around him. With no real concept of life or death, the story quickly confused the bronze dragon, but he tried to pay attention as best as he could anyway, even with all the distractions.

Like all those moving bones, or Lily and Freddy nestled up against him, or the slowly approaching ashlings, or all that yummy smelling fish over there...

Okay, he isn't doing a very good job of paying attention, but he does hear enough to at least catch the gist of what was said. There were three people playing, and two of them stopped playing with the other one, but then the game stopped being as fun, so they let him join back in, and it was even more fun than before!

This is a really neat story.

Sprite #2, by now, has decided that freezing and being perfectly still is an excellent course of action.
After all, he just got kidnapped by some strange creature's...tentacle? Arm? Leg? Some weird appendage it doesn't entirely agree with.

Maybe if it sits really still and doesn't try any funny business, the dragonite won't eat it.


Meanwhile, the other sprites have continued their advance on Kashi.
They'll continue until they're pretty much right up against the peculiar dragon, staring up expectantly.
Or well, probably staring.

They might be getting horribly distracted by any coins that are nearby.
Coins are good eatin'.

[happyturtle]

Storytime

Lily is about to say something long winded and imaginative again, when the sprites go nearer, and she decides the wiser course of action is to hide under the blanket again. "Shoo! Go away!"

[Rebonack]

[Story Time!]

Aaww...

Freddy was looking forward to another episode of Lily's silly rambling! Looks like it has been interrupted by the weird little ash things. While the Huldra is pretty sure they aren't dangerous he still needs to make a point of being protective of his little friends!

The demon fox' ears fold back as he growls at the soot sprites that get too close. Sounds like your typical canine growl combined with the noise of a crackling fire.

...

Fire sounds probably don't bother the sprites much.

But maybe the big growling demon fox will?

[Mr. Moon]

Storytime

Kax is quiet for a few moments. He watches the bonfire, watches the smoke rise up from it. Considers what next to say. He glances at Reelshka, but doesn't quite meet her gaze. The information he was seeking could be dangerous. Could bring danger to these people. Could she hear him, even now? Kax didn't know. Didn't want to risk it unless he was sure. That, and a mix of pride, made him very careful about how he phrased his next question.
"Your infirmary," he says, ignoring Reelshka's question, "how does it fair against magic?"

[Morty]

[Story Time!]

Reelshka's eyes narrow, her ears droop a little and she folds her arms across her chest.
We have some people who can work magic. But you didn't answer my question. Why do you need our infirmary?

[Mr. Moon]

Story Time

The orc doesn't turn his gaze to Reelshka, even as she sets her own firmly upon him. He tucks his hands into his pockets, sorely missing his axe. "No," Tel-Zaf Kax says evenly. "I didn't. Are you a healer?"
Reelshka may not get a straight answer from him.

[Morty]

[Story Time!]

Reelshka rolls her eyes, then fixes them on Tel-Zaf again.
No, I'm not. But before I let you use our infirmary, I need to know why you need it. It's not that much to ask.