[Nexus] Riverside X: Take a Walk on the Wildside

[Halae]

[Golden Flagon Tavern]

"Hmm..." So Watch still trusts Ilpholin, despite her demonic situation. Worthy of noting.
"Tell me a bit more about this school. What'll you teach? Oh and what'll be the prizes?"

[Golden Flagon Tavern]

"You haven't seen me in combat much, have you Ilpholin?" Harnel asks. To be perfectly honest, he doesn't think Ilpholin has seen him fight at all, "I'm capable of using any weapon I get my hands on like a master if I'm given a few minutes to fiddle with it and have a basic understanding of how it works. I'm terrible at ranged combat, but anything that you stab, slash, or bash with, I can use proficiently at the very least."

"On top of that, I know certain maneuvers that make more efficient use of you body's energy than what most veterans learn. You're no slouch, but I'd hazard a guess that even you'd be able to benefit from this training."

[Reinholdt]

[Golden Flagon Tavern]

"... Harnel, do you really want to challenge me when it comes to efficient energy use and stamina? Realllly?" Ilpholin shakes her head and rolls her eyes a little.

"What you know is all well and good, but I was asking what you intended to teach. If you're trying to say that you intend to teach everything you know to everyone who shows then... well good luck with that and all." Seems excessive, but who's she to speak about moderation?

[Shadowcaller]

[Malchenar - Valente]

"You start placing out your figures by your starting territory." The male tiefling quickly replies while he starts to put his purple figurines on the map. "You start with the black territory over there, Efhos. Just place out one shadow vampire, one earth vampire, one air vampire and some thralls. Then you're ready to go."

"Ohh... I'm going to place my dragon right here next to your guys. That means I make a claim on the territory." Syliva says as she places the dragon miniature on a grey island next to Valente's lands.

[Suncrest Manor]

"So who are you then?" Irena asks with a smile while presumingly doing something sexy (though her player doubts it's really all that sexy).

[Gullara]

[Malchenar - Valente]

Valente starts to sort out and place the pieces as indicated. He pauses when Syliva places the dragon, however. "Why can you do that?" That seems like it's bad for him to start off.

[Suncrest Manor]

"I'm the fun one." Nadia says with a laugh as she keeps on snapping pictures of Irena. She is having a blast, that's for sure. A short time later, Nadia ends up lying on top of her financée, still holding the camera out are arms length to randomly snap pictures as they make out.

The lampades pulls back and sits up so she's straddling Irena. "So, you're not bothered by this?" She rubs her hand over the slight swell in her stomach. It's not much right now, but it promises to grow much bigger.

[Halae]

[Golden Flagon Tavern]

"... Harnel, do you really want to challenge me when it comes to efficient energy use and stamina? Realllly?" Ilpholin shakes her head and rolls her eyes a little.

"What you know is all well and good, but I was asking what you intended to teach. If you're trying to say that you intend to teach everything you know to everyone who shows then... well good luck with that and all." Seems excessive, but who's she to speak about moderation?

[Golden Flagon Tavern]

"I don't intend to teach them everything," Harnel says, "It can take years to teach people about using their body energy the way I'm talking about it. Once you have a grasp on that, the rest comes through practice, experimentation, and fighting. A person can teach you what makes him good, and that can help, but by no means is that the only way you can get better. My purpose is to show them the path, and then offer advanced classes once they actually know what they're doing during which I will be teaching them what I know. Not everything, but enough."

[happyturtle]

At the meeting place

Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

Meet me by the river, where North, South, and Eastside meet. Keep in mind that others might read this and either stupidly assume I'm talking about them, or think it'd be a great idea to involve themselves in the business of others.

Evangeline is here, waiting in a tree to watch for danger and for her god.

[Shadowcaller]

[Suncrest Manor]

"Hey, it's just more of you right?" Irena replies with a shrug, not looking that concerned about it. "I mean, I'm more bothered by how you're feeling ill and stuff then a big stomach. The way I see it, the larger you are the sooner we can live a normal life again." The witch explains. "Besides." She then adds with a grin, "I don't mind largeness all that much." But perhaps only in specific parts of the body.

[Malchenar - Valente]

"She can't." The tiefling says with a grunt. "But Sylvia always play by her own rules so just ignore her."

"That's because you never let me play the dragon!"

He sigh and turns to Valente and Astrana. "I'm Lucius by the way, nice to meet you both. Especially you Astrana." He tells the other tiefling who currently is busy with putting up her pieces, with a smile.

Quick Valente, here is your chance!

[Gullara]

[Suncrest Manor]

Nadia laughs and leans over Irena again to give her a kiss. "Now I just feel silly for worry about what you thought. How did I ever find a woman as perfect as you?"

[Malchenar - Valente]

What the hell? Valente doesn't look particularly happy with Lucius at the moment. "Yes, I'm sure it's especially nice for you to meet my girlfriend, now how about we just play the game?" For a brief moment, the vampire almost looks somewhat intimidating. Perhaps it's the intensity in his eyes as he glares at Lucius.

[Reinholdt]

[Golden Flagon Tavern]

"Right. Well I'll help if the scheduling isn't terrible, but do you think that those who need teaching are going to show up for a tournament or those that already experts in their field?" In her experience it's the latter, though she supposes a few of the early rounds always has a dud or two that Harnel would probably be looking for.

[Lord Magtok]

At the Meeting Place

Spoiler

Show

At the meeting place

Evangeline is here, waiting in a tree to watch for danger and for her god.

Evangeline might be waiting up there for a while. As far as the eyes can tell, there's nobody of any interest whatsoever around here, unfortunately. I mean, aside from the KGB operative and CIA agent sitting on a bench, feeding ducks and reminiscing about the world they left behind, or the old fisherman on the river presently negotiating with a talking trout who keeps blowing bubbles at him. Their stories might be mildly entertaining, not one of those people are of any significance, though.

"Hello again, angel."

Magtok abruptly makes his presence known, turning off some cloaking device as he leans against the trunk of that same tree, his hands to his face as he lights what appears to be a completely ordinary and nothing-special cigarette. He looks straight ahead at those secret agents, not glancing her way for even a moment, lest someone passing by realize he's talking to some weird blood-stained toga lady who lives in a tree.

"Today happens to be the day we make it known that mortals aren't something so carelessly trifled with. We'll have to look and fight our best; the whole world will be watching, after all."

Look first, fight second. That's so typical of our Maggy, putting superficial appearances above all else, isn't it?

"I've pulled strings, cashed in my favors, run some tests, and readied my secret weapons already. Everything is ready on my end. Do you need anything sorted out before we head on down to Mount Olympus?"

[happyturtle]

At the Meeting Place

"I'm ready. What are my instructions, Sir?" Linda asks from her tree perch.

[Halae]

[Golden Flagon Tavern]

"Right. Well I'll help if the scheduling isn't terrible, but do you think that those who need teaching are going to show up for a tournament or those that already experts in their field?" In her experience it's the latter, though she supposes a few of the early rounds always has a dud or two that Harnel would probably be looking for.

[Golden Flagon]

"I expect those who either want to prove themselves or want to learn. Either one can still learn something. You never stop learning if you want to be the best. What we're looking for in terms of talent is whomever has the potential to learn the most."

[Reinholdt]

[Golden Flagon Tavern]

Ilpholin expects those who want to show off, cause Nexus. But she shrugs.

"Alright. Where are you holding this thing?" Knowing where to be is important!

[Halae]

[Golden Flagon Tavern]

"I'm actually having the school built to the Northwest of Inside, about an hour out of the city. It's going to consist of a training yard that can double as a small stadium, as well as a building inside for whatever staff I employ and indoor training an exams."

Harnel says this before taking a drink. I'm just going to say he ordered some mead at some point, since he would have wanted something to drink.

[Reinholdt]

[Golden Flagon Tavern]

"Going to? Meaning this will be somewhat far in the future?"

Must like the flavor of mead then, cause it must take a long time for a half-dragon to get tipsy. Granted, from what I hear mead is for the taste anyways.

[Halae]

[Golden Flagon Tavern]

Yep, mead's got a good taste to it. And yep, Harnel is hard to get drunk.

"Not particularly. Constructions almost finished from what I understand. Magic can really speed things up."

[Reinholdt]

[Golden Flagon Tavern]

Ugh, magic. Oh well, it has its uses obviously.

"Alright. Was there anything else?"

[Halae]

[Golden Flagon Tavern]

"Not at the moment," Harnel says, "Do you think you'd like to take part in the judging? If not, I might be able to find someone else, but you're preferred."

[Reinholdt]

[Golden Flagon Tavern]

"I already said I'd help." Ilpholin reiterates from a few posts back.

Not how she mentally pictured herself sandwiched between Harnel and Wenomir, but it'll do.

[Halae]

[Golden Flagon Tavern]

Harnel nods, then drinks the rest of his mead in one go, "I'll let you know when everything is finalized. Thanks for your help here." then he stands up to move towards the door. Ilphy will have an opportunity to stop him from leaving if she so chooses, of course, but for now he's going to leave.

[Reinholdt]

[Golden Flagon Tavern]

Ilpholin has no reason to keep him and will leave much later after him from a different exit in a different direction.

[Lord Magtok]

At the Meeting Place

"I'm ready. What are my instructions, Sir?" Linda asks from her tree perch.

"Follow my lead, never doubt me even if I'm making it look like I'm going to lose, and try not to die. Once the fighting's started, clench your left hand into a fist repeatedly whilst wearing these."

Magtok reaches into a pocket, pulls out a pair of white gloves, and holds them up towards the tree.

"Oh, and since you've nothing left to sort out, we're leaving for Olympus now, so you'll need to get out of that tree."

His other hand tears open a telewarp portal, presumably leading to their destination.

[Earl of Purple]

At The Meeting Place

A skeletal monkey appears nearby, clambering over a wall as it tries to stealthily find somewhere it can spy upon the meeting. Its master is slightly annoyed that he's missed part of the meeting already, but he'll make do.

It can be spotted, despite its desires not to be; no hiding place is entirely perfect, after all, and it doesn't have invisibility.

[happyturtle]

"Follow my lead, never doubt me even if I'm making it look like I'm going to lose, and try not to die. Once the fighting's started, clench your left hand into a fist repeatedly whilst wearing these."

Magtok reaches into a pocket, pulls out a pair of white gloves, and holds them up towards the tree.

"Oh, and since you've nothing left to sort out, we're leaving for Olympus now, so you'll need to get out of that tree."

His other hand tears open a telewarp portal, presumably leading to their destination.

Evangeline drops down out of the tree, grabs the gloves, and follows Magtok through. The poor skeletal monkey missed almost the whole thing.

[Lost_Deep]

[Kami Hunting]

The sorceress smiles at the half-dragon before attempting focus more on tracking down kami then how or even if she should introduce Harnel to her parents. She was on a vacation after all...

Assuming Cessie is avoiding the confusion Kami in the fountain, the next Kami will take a bit to find. A small, female creature runs past, about three feet tall and wearing a fur coat and a a little fur hat. She's moving fast and keeping to the shadows... and she has a Kami inside her.

[Shadowcaller]

[A Location In Northside]

It would take the better part of half a minute before Ghoul felt she had placed enough distance between herself and the pit. However, the additional fifteen seconds to relocate behind an apparently sturdy building was less than pleasant. Maneuverability was something left wanting by the usage of this module and anything farther out than ten meters was nearly impossible to make out. So, once the muse deactivated the module, a ripple of heat washed over the area with a low 'whoosh' as the muse landed on her hands and knees; small trails of smoke issuing from a few points of her rather raw and lightly charred skin.

Lacking most of her detection systems, the muse simply made to pull the shadows around her once more and move away from the site as quickly as was possible. It was something she had discounted but even lacking her augmented abilities, her 'curse' seemed to shore a few of the downsides to using her 'panic button.' Still, the scent of charred flesh might be easy to catch up on if the wind was right.

[Northside Building]

Samona doesn't pause to celebrate her successful shot. She continues right on into the building, which just happens to be an apartment building. It takes her a bit of extra time to leave as she has to tamper with the occupant's mind a bit before she does. But in a matter of time she'll exist the building. Since they're going into a more public area, the vampire's captive is going to have to walk with strict instructions to act like nothing's wrong.

[A Location In Northside]

The gargoyles draws in the scent and turns in the direction of the house Ghoul went into. Still caught in the thrill of the hunt the creatures immediately heads for it, not minding to knock down a door or two to get to her.
Due to their size however they might have some trouble getting inside or moving around in a building however so only one actually heads inside while the others head around the building to see if they can catch the fledglings scent elsewhere.

[Northside Building]

The woman looks quite apathetic at this point, walking around with an blank expression on her face. The man however can't hide neither hid anger or his resentment for what's happening, but her will follow Samona wherever she goes without questions.

Meanwhile outside the building the earth vampire is regenerating it's wounds. This had been a bad day, she had made at least two really stupid decisions due to her own confidence and now the kidnapper was getting away. The vampires trail getting lost among the other occupants in the building.

For now it just attempts to listen to the vibrations of the people leaving and entering the building, the gargoyles would come to it's location eventually, if delayed for the proper lack of description.

[Suncrest Manor]

"Pure luck." Irena replies with a grin as she leans back in the coach with her hands resting behind her head, looking mightily pleased with herself. "Now why don't you give me-" Annnd the scene can probably fade to black there before they do something completely forum inappropriate.

((I'll add the other scenes later as I got to go now.))

[Murkus]

Eastside - Wandering

"Then here we go!" Nina walks a few steps forwards and slips out of this patch of reality for the moment.

Fireside Inn

A sleepy little inn just short of Eastside's wall is now home to two unexpected and possibly odd guests! Nina's airwalk has taken her here, since she had a vague idea of an inn with a common room in her mind when she stepped through the curtain of air, and it seems like their sudden appearance has nearly given the old timer at the bar a heart attack.

"Excuse me, but do you have a spare room for my friend? I can just sleep in the common room myself if that's alright." The centaur asks as if it's no big deal.

"Hey, I got this," Tina says, seeing the senior citizen get spooked. She climbs down off've Nina, damn near breaking her ankle in those heels, and approaches the innkeeper with a charming smile. "Least I can do is pay. If you've got a room big enough for a centaur, I'll get it for her."

[Gullara]

[Northside Building]

Samona isn't going to delay in the building. She has to keep moving. So the vampire guides her captive one of the two exists out of the building, namely the one on the far side from the side the earth vampire was last at. Before they exit, the woman will hear Samona giving the street address and a direction to someone through her communicator.

[Terumitsu]

[A Location In Northside]

Given that Ghoul was behind the building rather than inside it, this detour taken by her persuers would be quite welcome. Taking a moment to clear her thoughts and pull on the shadows around her once more, the fledgeling would try to make her way through the darker alleyways and using her enhanced senses to seek out passages where the scents of pungent things intermingled the most. She was quite aware of just how strongly she smelled at the moment and was doing what she could to throw off any trace of her passing.

While the muse did occasionally consider taking to the rooftops, given that the gargoyles had wings, it was not something she felt entirely safe doing for the time being. Not without all of her gear at least. Of course, her success on any of this depended on if she was found by the stone skinned monsters or perhaps any others looking out for her. Although she was doing her best to stay hidden, that didn't mean she was necessarily invisible.

[happyturtle]

Eastside Elections

While Billie is continuing to pursue her campaign with a platform of "Free Speech AND Free Beer!" a more serious candidate has also come forth.

Vita Octavia, priestess of Vesta and exile from the city of Thessaloniki, is a young, intelligent woman with a strong sense of civic duty. Her training as a Vestalis has also given her training in general city management, which is reassuring to the part of the populace that is conscientious enough to care about such matters. As might be expected, this group and Billie's supporters do not overlap much.

Vita, her brother Felis, and her betrothed Rugal, have come out to meet the populace and campaign for votes.