[Nexus] Riverside 14

[Gullara]

By Darklord Bright

Riverside, a small, modern city outside the reach of Remnant control. The city has always been known by one defining factor, it's status as a hive of scum and villainy. A number of factions vie for footholds in the city, though they are largely peaceful at the moment. No doubt some would jump at the opportunity to expand their influence. Riverside sits on the edge of the Nexus, so while it's still prone to the strangeness common there, it's far more stable than other parts of the Nexus. Being the hive and scum and villainy that it is, the streets can be dangerous and shady deals and dark alleys are plenty. Welcome to Riverside.

Current Events:

The Districts:

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Northside


Eastside

Eastside is mostly a middle-to-lower class, densely populated area. It's fairly multicultural, even by Nexus standards, and inhabited by a wide range of species and cultures.
Like the rest of Riverside, Eastside has been in the hands of either criminals or supernatural factions for a long time. Now it has changed - a democratic election organized by the Democracy Now movement led to the creation of the Eastside Parliament and a Mayor. They hold the power in Eastside now, and the Hunters enforce the law within it.

Southside

Where there was people and buildings as dense as the rest of Riverside, the territory once ruled by the Court of One was emptied by its queen when she vanished. What was left behind was a featureless expanse of land.

Since then, a number of different people and groups have taken the opportunity to construct their own buildings and get a foothold in the city. What resulted from this is a scattered collection of factions with their own territory.

Westside

Most notably, the district of Westside is covered by a field of darkness. During the day, the sky is an inky black, where no sign of the sun is visible. During the night, the field allows the stars and moon to show through it. In place of the sun, the "Light of Evolution" lights up the strange sky. It served to light up the days, but the light is more white than natural sunlight.

Because of these unique conditions, Westside is home to far more citizens of the variety that would typically avoid the sun by living underground and staying indoors during the day. on the other hand, you wouldn't find anyone that couldn't adapt to the lack of proper sunlight here.

Westside is home mostly the middle class, tough a section of it houses a much more wealthy class of citizens. Large, old mansions are found in this area, surrounded by fences and large yards. the rest of the district is more typical.

Places Within:

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Northside

• Malechenar Castle Shadowcaller
  
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  The castle is a gigantic structure, far larger than any other building in the city and somehow defying the laws of gravity by levitating right over it. This castle have no visible courtyard or entrances however, just a myriad of strained glass archway-shaped windows surrounded by round black walls. The walls are arranged like gigantic archways which supports structure with smaller archways on top which in turn supports other other archways which builds up the entire wall which is connected by an myriad of spires and build in passage ways. {Reference Image}
  
  There are five much larger spires coming off from the main structure, reaching up into the air like spikes. Four of them end with large diamond shaped objects made of a red glass-like material. The fifth and tallest spire is in the very middle of the structure and could be called a tower instead as it's much wider than the others and ends with five smaller spires arranged in a similar ways as the ones in the castle itself.
  
  All over Malechenar sit gargoyles upon ledges which seem to have been specifically made for them, their black skin blending in perfectly into the building.
• Moth Park:
  
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  About 100 acres, the moth park is approximately rectangular in shape, with a bandshell/performance stage at the north end, a soccer field and softball diamond at the south and a forested area in the center.
  
  It also holds two playgrounds (swing sets, slides, monkey bars) several fountains (most of which are nonfunctional) various statues and a network of walking paths.
  
  Since the re-opening, Moth park is pretty popular with the local residents as well as those who come into the area to work or visit.
• Police Station:
  
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  The police station is a large but simple brick building. All police activity is based out of this building. It's outfitted with interrogation rooms, a few offices, and other rooms that a police station would have.
• Riverside Hospital:
  
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  This hospital is the only one currently in Riverside. It was built after the old hospital burned down some years ago. As a result, it's of fairly modern design. It works just like a normal, modern hospital would with the exception of magic being used along normal medical procedures to achieve better results.
• Sawyer's Inn:
  
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  The inside of Sawyer's is beautiful, though humble. Whoever keeps the place, keeps it in fine condition.
  
  The dark wooden floors are waxed and shiny. There are four wooden pillars that reach up to the ceiling. The four walls are painted in a brick red, with light grey accents.
  
  Along the left wall there is a large hearth fire burning, with a dog and cat sleeping together. The dog raises it's head slightly to observe the newcomers, but doesn't rush to sniff them out.
  
  Along the right wall is the customer service area, with a dining hall just past it. The smell of freshly baked bread and some kind of meat can be smelled eminating from beyond.
  
  And then there is the back wall. There is a set of stairs leading up and another leading down. Both sets are made of the same wood as the pillars and floor.
• Temple of Dalachrech: Earl of Purple
  
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  This building closely resembles all the other semi-detached houses along this road. The temple takes up both halves of the house, however; although the building has been designed such that the halves don't match to maintain the illusion of separate owners. It has a red tile roof and is constructed from red brick, although the left half has been painted white. There's a pair of garages and two front doors, both of which work.
  
  The temple is a private location. Please PM Earl of Purple before visiting.
  Posts for the temple should occur in this thread.

Eastside

• Cosiellio's Temple: Harnel
  
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  There's a small temple here that just finished construction last week. It's a fairly plain thing, more utilitarian than ostentatious, but it's made of marble and granite, giving it a glowing white appearance in the sun, with Cos' holy symbol in a large carved statue above the front door. It's a shield with feathered wings imposed along the front, giving it the impression of a heart. It's carved impeccably; it must have been done with magic.
  
  A few of Cos' faithful are here almost all the time - given the informal nature of the temple, everybody drifts in to say a few prayers whenever they're feeling like they should, or whenever they have the time. Cos himself regularly visits, of course, and answers prayers directly.
• Fallow’s Furry & Feathered Friends: Earl of Purple
  
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  The shop is lit up with bright lights and neon advertising. Around the store is a secure, electrified fence and there's four watch towers in the corners. The gate is near a large, secure-looking building within which are three ogre guards. Inside lie four warehouses, a large collection of aquariums and gigantic tanks, a squat and ugly toilet block and three seperate bunkers for customers to evacuate into should something more dangerous escape, such as a smilodon from the Mammal House, a wyvern from the Reptile House, a giant carnivorous slug from the Invertebrate House or something worse. Patrolling the wide, open spaces are the occasional group of six uniformed humans armed with net-guns. Slaves can be bought here if one asks the right questions.
• Golden Flagon Tavern:
  
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  The Golden Flagon Tavern was once the main hideout of the local mafia. It was destroyed, but recently it has been fully restored. It still tends to attract the unsavory sort, but the owner keeps things civil.
  
  The tavern is very old fashioned. It's a stone building with polished, wooden supports. A fire always warms it's large hearth and the drinks always good. It makes for a comfortable atmosphere.
• Hunter Lodge: Morty
  
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  The main administration building for the Hunter force. The Hunter Commander's office is located there, as well as the rest of the administrative staff.
• Light's Heart: Shadowcaller
  
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  The citadel rises up like something taken from a sci-fi movie. The walls are golden colored, untainted by age and dirt. Like something that was just build just recently.
  Five towers have been built into the wall, standing no less then 40 feet tall, looking like they have been cut out from the same stone.
  
  Above the towers rises the citadel itself, completely square in form and made of the same golden stone it have numerous arrow slits carved out at the upper floors.
  
  Leading around it's form is a wooden staircase going from the top of the citadel to the courtyard below.The only visible entrance is the massive gate made of obsidian colored wood which stands wide open, inviting anyone inside.
• Parliament: Morty
  
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  Not far from the Town Hall, the small circular new building serves as the meeting place for the People's Parliament. It includes a large hall for meetings as well as offices for all the members.
• Town Hall: Morty
  
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  Converted from several buildings in the middle of the district, it serves as the seat of the administration. The Mayor resides there.

Southside

• Church of Terenti: Reinholdt
  
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  This rather classic looking cathedral sprung up overnight by Terenti's blessing. It is holy ground for those it matters to. Every day the high priest Saul, holds sermons to a slowly growing congregation on Terenti's Word, the Seven Virtues, and redemption before the cleansing fire.
• Harald's Lab: GrandDM
  
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  Located under an apparently empty lot in Southside, this facility contains a lot of science experiments and equipment, as well as a large number of robots and orks. Due to the teleblocker and dimensional lock, the Lab is only accessible by Harald's teleporters, and thus by invitation - unless you want to try and dig down to it.
  
  It is currently undergoing expansion to equal the size of the facility removed from Inside.
• Lotus Gardens: Wolfbane
  
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  The Lotus Gardens are a veritable Eden, a paradise in the middle of an otherwise fairly "normal" city. The entire section appears carved of white marble and smells of sweets, a hint of sweat, and exotic flowers, inviting all to come and stay in the Lotus Garden's Embrace.
  
  Home to the Slaanesh Cult "The Masks", the population is full of exotic and beautiful appearing people who are always welcoming. Though many just live around the area, actual cultists seem few and far between, wearing their Masks as they patrol the streets as guards.
  
  In the very center is the Mask Temple, a cathedral of white marble and stained glass windows, surrounded by paired statues of lovers locked in eternal embrace.
• AMENside
  
  • AMEN Embassy: AMEN Players
    
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    The Main Base for AMEN in Riverside, this building is shaped like a spider above ground and goes fairly deep below ground.
  • AMENside Wall AMEN Players
    
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    This wall forms a large slightly amorphous half-circle in connection with the river and clearly designates AMEN's territory. It is guarded by the occasional emplaced turret and has gates for entry/exit.

Westside

• Blood Donation Clinic:
  
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  A small clinic has been established in Westside for the purpose of collecting blood from those willing to donate. The blood is then distributed to those that require it. This is primarily Tenebras vampires, but any being that requires blood for sustenance can get it here. Some blood can be given to the hospital when needed as well.
  
  The clinic itself is a small building. Inside there is a reception area, and a few different rooms for the actual procedure. There is usually one person on site twentyfour seven.
• Cathedral of the Sacred Order of Cunningham: happyturtle
  
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  The Westside Cathedral is large enough to house people for emergency purposes, but in general, only the family of the pastor and the groundskeeper live there.
  
  Pastor Rockwell is the Pastor
  Sister Janice is the Pastor's wife, and a skilled hippiemancer.
  

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• Club Pulse: Shadowcaller
  
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  The club is quite easily noticed by the huge neon sign outside, Pulse was easily recognized as Riversides largest nightclub. Beyond the line and the bouncer outside is a classic club layout with a large dance floor with loud music and flashing lights.
  
  In a slightly more calm area of the club is the bar run by an one-eyed bartender called Ryo.
  
  There are two stairs leading up to the upper floor where it's easier to talk and drink.
  
  The atmosphere is pretty heavy as you walk inside with techno music playing very loud.
• Doctor Stroffelnburg's Psychiatric Clinic: Reinholdt
  
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  This rather unassuming white building contains the world's finest psychiatric doctor. After the setback at his hospital that caused the loss of the use of his legs, Doctor Stroffelnburg took his savings and set up a smaller clinic here in Riverside. Walk-ins are encouraged.
• Enforcer HQ: Gulaghar
  
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  On the outside, this building almost looks like a bunker. It's a low, squat building constructed of stone. The only windows are on the front of the building and they are small. There is a fenced off area in the back that contains a number of vehicles.
  
  The lobby area is fairly bare. There are a few different clearly labeled desks to approach, depending on the reason for being there. One is for general business with the Enforcers. The wall opposite the desks is lined with chairs.
  
  Off to the left is a hallway that goes deeper into the building. An Enforcer guard stands at the entrance to this hallway at all times. At the end of the hall is a heavy steel door with a card based lock. Behind this door is an armoury that contains the Enforcer's weapons and armour.
  
  On the opposite side of the lobby, there is a similar hallway, though it's not guarded on the lobby side. At the far end there is a door that leads to an area with a few holding cells and a desk for a guard to work at.
  
  Halfway down the same hall is another hall intersecting it. This hall is lined with doors to a number of offices and other rooms.
• Evolution Industries: Darkcomet
  
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  The Westside branch of EI. The main building is a fairly nondescript, tall (not a skyscraper or anything, but still with several floors) modern one, with a large Evolution Industries logo on it.
• Evolution Industries Power Plant: Darkcomet
  
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  The Class 3 MACE unit offered by Evolution Industries is a large, static installation capable of generating enough power to supply all of Riverside with electricity, and it was Tenebras that commissioned the first of these installations from EI.
  
  The installation is housed inside a large, reinforced building. The interior has multiple levels linked by elevators and stairs, all surrounding the roughly cylindrical silver crystalline structure that is the actual Class 3 unit. It's quite the view at the top for EI's employees and the occasional tourist, and naturally there are plenty of guard rails. Naturally, office space, bathrooms, and the like are all present in the building, though obviously away from the main spiral surrounding the installation itself. Many computers and other such pieces of equipment are present in the areas around the installation, perpetually monitoring and controlling its output.
  
  The building itself is guarded and patrolled by Evolution Industries' corporate security division.
  
  All that is known to the public, but given what Evolution Industries used to do, and the identity of its head, it's possible the place is far more guarded than it immediately seems...
• Exbourne Manor: Gulaghar
  
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  Exbourne manor is rather old, though kept in excellent condition since it was restored when Tenebras moved in. The rooms are large and spacious, and most of the public areas have been painted in bright pastels and decorated with vases of flowers.
  
  The ground floor largely consists of the lofty entrance hall, a comfortable living room, and the kitchen. Ramiro's office is also on the ground floor for easy access. The second and third floor have mostly bedrooms and attached washrooms. The basement serves as rooms for the servants primarily. In a separate part of the basement is a large vault as well as an Evolution Industries Class 2 MACE Unit which provides the building with electricity. Finally, the attic contains whatever it is that creates the darkness field within Westside.
  
  The manor is surrounded by a courtyard. An iron fence surrounds it, and a number of trees provide privacy along the sides and behind the building. The courtyard is grassy and has a cobblestone trail leading to the front door. Behind the manor is a private garden. The courtyard's gate is almost always left open.
• Light of Evolution/Control Center: Darkcomet
  
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  Once the Class 3 Installation was completed, the head of Evolution Industries approached the leader of Tenebras with an answer to a question that had been asked of him before-that of bringing light back to Westside.
  
  The building at ground level is fairly normal-looking, wide but not overly tall. It is marked with Evolution Industries logos, and serves as the control and maintenance center for the site's true purpose.
  
  The crystalline sphere that serves as Westside's artificial sun, known as the Light of Evolution, floats in the air far above the building, a bright blue beam linking it and the structure. This serves to power the Light. This beam is surrounded by a translucent, shimmering blue forcefield, to prevent anyone from interrupting it.
  
  The beam is projected from a system usually at the roof of the building, and is taken in by a receiver panel at the bottom of the Light, which is how it powers it.
  
  The Light brightens and dims as appropriate to simulate a natural day-night cycle, and the beam that powers it dims with it. After all, when it is dimmer, it requires less power. In the darkest times of the night, the beam projector deactivates and the forcefield drops. The former lowers itself down into the building, and the Light floats down on anti-gravity systems with their own onboard power. The Control Center's roof contains a hatch that, at this time, opens and allows the Light to land for maintenance. During the day, this hatch is normally sealed around the energy projector that powers the Light, preventing it from being used as a secondary entrance during this time as well.
  
  Naturally, the site is heavily guarded by Evolution Security, and no tourists or civilians are allowed inside.
  
  Interestingly, Evolution Industries has issued an official warning that it is not responsible for the results of anyone flying into the forcefield around the power beam, or the beam itself should those be somehow disabled. It is noted that death or serious injury is likely to occur.
• MagMart: Lord Magtok
  
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  If the individual entering has any sort of familiarity with the other MagMart, back when it was its own building apart from Mallside, they'll probably notice that this Riverside one doesn't look anywhere near as glamorous as its predecessor. It's a modest purple brick building, the glass display windows aren't even properly bulletproof, and the smelly homeless people usually employed to wander around about the front of the store in a wacky MagMascot costume with an enormous cyborg head are mysteriously absent.
  
  That said, you can still find just about everything here that you can at the Mallside store. Curtains to carpets, macaroni to monkeys on motorcycles, groceries to zombies garlic. The staff is always happy to help (or else), and if you aren't entirely satisfied with your shopping experience, you can pay a small fee to watch the MagMart employee of your choosing get fired out the MagMart complimentary employee morale cannon. Except in this store, the 'morale cannon' is really more of a morale bazooka, and while it's still fun to watch, it's nowhere near as charming.
• Toy Tinker: Murkus
  
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  Here stands the Toy Tinker, a rich, ancient wooden building styled after the sort of boardwalk shop you might've found on Earth in the early American twentieth century. It's a crude blocky affair dominated by sweeping, simple architecture, built in two stories with a basement beneath. The front of the shop is covered by two long, shiny windows, behind which waits a plethora of playthings. Mostly metal work, plus some plastic or wood worked in. The various creatures move about with a life of their own, eyes aglow by some strange inner light. Dragons with clockwork guts waddle alongside tin soldiers run on batteries and copper wire. You can find just about any sort of toy here.
  
  The Tinker supplies the most lifelike toys anywhere, guaranteed. Just don't ask how the proprietor makes them - unless you're looking for business of a different sort.
• Westside City Hall: Gulaghar
  
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  The newly constructed city hall is a towering, impressive building. It is crafted primarily out of a light stone. There is an old feel to it's design, but it is very much a modern building on the inside.
  
  It opens up to a wide open lobby. The floor is a clean white and the room is brightly lit by florescent lights. Immediately to the right of the door is a reception desk where a receptionist can be found for direction during business hours. On the left of the entrance is a security desk where an Enforcer can be found. In the middle of the room is a small fountain with several chairs around it. On the far side of the room is an elevator and there are a number of other doors that lead out of the room.
  
  On the second and third floor there are a number of offices. The mayor's office is on the third floor and there is an office for the Enforcer chief here as well.

Previous Threads:

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Riverside 13
Riverside 12
Riverside 11
Riverside X: Take a Walk on the Wildside
Riverside IX
Riverside VIII: A New Side
Riverside VII
Riverside VI
Riverside V
Riverside IV: Offside, 10 Yard Penalty
Riverside III
Riverside II
Riverside I: The Beginning

[Devixer]

Westside

"Martial arts, personally. I can take back-alley short cuts without worrying too much." She really doesn't seem to be worried about monsters.

"Okay. Shouldn't be a problem to find a camping store or something like that around here," Shark says. "I don't have anything to spare, unfortunately."

[Murkus]

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Malchenar Castle

"Of course." Celestel says with a curt nod and then continues towards the door. Inside is a enormous hall lit up by some kind of artificial sun in at the very center of the ceiling. It's rather unlike the painted sun the saw in the entrance hall.

The artificial sun is hard to make out as it's glow is too strong to really look upon it for too long. It's purpose it's clear however, the sea of vegetation in front of them is feeding of it's life-living light. The flora around here is rather exotic, bluebells the size of trees, so called "corpse flowers" but unlike their real-life counter parts they smell good, very sweet, which must be the smell they picked up in the corridor.

There are a myriad of smaller species of flowers, some shaped like little orange human skulls while others like symbolic little hearts. Compared to the fauna the bumblebees going between the plants look very normal.

"This is the garden, we mostly use it for medical purposes. There used to be bee hives here too but we couldn't keep it up. The bees were swarming all over the castle." She explains as they walk forward down the paved path. "Up head are our farms which the gardens more and more have to make way for as the population up here has grown." She gestures ahead where they can see farm lands which should you an idea of just how large this chamber and the castle itself is. "We wouldn't be able to keep this up without some help from plant spirits of course, it would be impossible to do with earth, water and sun alone." She continues to explain. "One could say this is the heart of Malechenar while the upper sections are the brain."

Malchenar Castle

Jim is a little creeped out by the skull flowers, but everything else is extremely cool. His tail waves a bit, unbeknownst to him. In the back of his mind Jim can feel the presence of something besides simple, natural plants. Of course, the fact that their guide said there were spirits makes that easy to identify, but the fact that he could feel that they're not purely natural is very interesting.
"Yeah, bees can be nasty little buggers. Hard to deal with raising them near populated areas." he says, more to himself than anyone else.

Sticks is struck dumb by the scale of Malchenar's magical and agricultural resources. Judging by the fields of wheat, corn, and other plants he doesn't recognize stretching into the distance, this place is capable of total self-sufficiency. Now that is impressive. The beauty of Malchenar's gardens takes a close second, rendering him speechless for a few moments as he moves his legs mechanically down the path. He looks, as best he can without being blinded, toward the artificial sun.

"How is it you imitate sunlight? I've never heard of someone succeeding in such endeavors before. The plants..." He looks around at the lush, strange place he's strolling through. "They would always wither and die. As though there were something magic could not replace."

Well, she did say plant spirits were involved. How could they not be? These flowers are enormous! And the corpseflowers are decidedly uncorpselike. It all speaks heavily of magical engineering on a scale he's never seen before.

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[Club Pulse]

"You're looking at it. This club is the place to have a good time. Dancing, drinking, you name it." The shorter of the two says.

"And now that you two are here, I think the fun can really begin." The other says with a waggle of his eyebrows. "I don't think we got your names. I'm Bello, and this is Lorenzo." He gestures between himself and his friend.

Club Pulse

Caelynn Turath, Huntress.
Caelynn replies, smiling.

"Call me Tina," Fettina says, smiling most pointedly at Lorenzo. "Well, Bello, Lorenzo, would you like to meet a couple friends of mine? We were all dying to meet some guys just like you."

[Lost_Deep]

Westside

"Yeah... not surprised. It's not like you've been here all that longer than I have." Mira looks around a bit more. "You know where downtown is? It's as good a place to start as any. We might find a city map there."

[Zefir]

Eyrecrad Estate

You're talking to him. Lord Talos Eyrecrad, at your service.

Eyrecrad Estate

"Are you aware of the political problems in Southside?" the man ask politly, watching around as if this place might not be the best one to discuss it.

[Arkhosia]

Eyrecrad Estate

"Are you aware of the political problems in Southside?" the man ask politly, watching around as if this place might not be the best one to discuss it.

'Fraid not. We just arrived here, sir. Would it be best to talk about it inside?
Talos replies.

[Darkcomet]

[Evolution Industries Riverside Branch Headquarters]

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Explosions happen. The bladder responsible for laser beams is set off, and a big, fiery, superheated inferno results, which is more than capable of tearing right through metal if it needs to in its violent spread across the space around it.



The gas won't do anything to impede DC's vision, but it doesn't need to be inhaled, either. Contact with one's skin is enough, so exactly how airtight is that suit of his?

Meanwhile, upon reaching DC at the stairwell, Magtok does the one thing he hopes is stupid enough to catch the psychic off-guard. He doesn't even bother talking, he just jumps right over the railing. Throws himself off the edge and plunges straight down towards the very bottom, without slowing his descent even a little to try to make the inevitable impact with the ground a tad more survivable.

Evolution Industries - Outside





Not the backup that was called for, but backup of a sort. A woman in a labcoat and wearing a Remnant ID badge telewarps in, accompanied by a floating drone the size of a basketball. Of course Sunny isn't here as a representative of Remnant - she just rushed to get here when she saw events unfolding on television, and didn't think to take her badge off. She also doesn't think to check with the local authorities before acting.

Since she came in outside the building, she doesn't see DC or Magtok anywhere. She speaks, and the drone amplifies her voice.

"Magtok?.... "

She flinches after the first word is amplified, hearing her voice like that. She really really doesn't like being noticed by strangers, and this pretty much guarantees it. But she can't let this go on. Not if it's about The Cat. So she takes a deep breath and goes on.

"DeeCee? It's Sunny. We have to talk."

DC certainly doesn't seem to be getting affected by the gas-though that armor looks pretty light despite the functions. Putting a hole in it would proooobably change that, though given that this is DC, that might be trouble enough in and of itself.

As for what Magtok tries to pull, he might find that a bit...difficult. Mostly in that DC kinda just tries to telekinetically snag him by the robe and stop the descent, one gun pointed down at him at the same time, the armored hand it's in flaring red.

He would fire, of course, but then two things happen. First, comes the explosion from elsewhere, shaking him up a bit. Second, comes Sunny, yelling from outside.

"Why do they always try to protect you and the cat!?"

Get away from here, Sunny, and stop trying to protect him! He betrayed me to him, and for that he has to die! You should understand that!

Telepathy continues to be utter shenanigans. Obviously, Sunny gets to hear that one.

Back with the robot fights, the unfortunate Guardian to discover that seems to have been at a close enough distance to get blasted by the explosion, which manages to fry its forcefield. The Guardian itself survives, but it can likely be swiftly cut down by any surviving Magbots in that particular area since its forcefield was expended by the blast.

The others, elsewhere, though...those are starting to move away from the Magbots, apparently having certain information fed to them by the network they're a part of. They will try to move to a safer distance before...

Doing the exact thing the one that (probably) got wrecked did?

This building is not going to look nice once this is over.

[Lord Magtok]

Evolution Industries Riverside Branch Headquarters

"I don't know; why are you always trying to kill me? Who betrayed who, first?" Magtok asks contemptuously, dangling in the air and doing his best to try to orient himself in a way that will let him glare up at the psychic.

"Never met anyone so afraid of just talking to a little girl, either." Magtok taunts, apparently forgetting that Sunny is married and has a child now, and isn't a Magtern anymore. My, how those months fly!

Elsewhere, the Magbots begin to play along, knowing a losing battle when they see one, and preferring to go out with as much collateral damage as possible. They're only more than happy to see the building completely devastated, at a minimal loss to the cyborg himself and his holdings. Damaging the Evolution business was more or less the entire plan here, after all, and they can always make more Magbots.

[happyturtle]

Evolution Industries

Spoiler: EI at Riverside

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[Evolution Industries - Outside]

Here are the sound of sirens approaching. Looks like the actual backup is going to be here any second. In the meantime, though, Tumasi blinks in surprise at Sunny for a moment. What is going on now?

"Hey. Hey stop. You can't be here. It's dangerous." Rollo steps toward Sunny, going to try and grab her arm. He notes the Remnant badge and curses in the back of his mind, but he doesn't let that stop him.

[Evolution Industries Riverside Branch Headquarters]



DC certainly doesn't seem to be getting affected by the gas-though that armor looks pretty light despite the functions. Putting a hole in it would proooobably change that, though given that this is DC, that might be trouble enough in and of itself.

As for what Magtok tries to pull, he might find that a bit...difficult. Mostly in that DC kinda just tries to telekinetically snag him by the robe and stop the descent, one gun pointed down at him at the same time, the armored hand it's in flaring red.

He would fire, of course, but then two things happen. First, comes the explosion from elsewhere, shaking him up a bit. Second, comes Sunny, yelling from outside.

"Why do they always try to protect you and the cat!?"

Get away from here, Sunny, and stop trying to protect him! He betrayed me to him, and for that he has to die! You should understand that!

Telepathy continues to be utter shenanigans. Obviously, Sunny gets to hear that one.

Back with the robot fights, the unfortunate Guardian to discover that seems to have been at a close enough distance to get blasted by the explosion, which manages to fry its forcefield. The Guardian itself survives, but it can likely be swiftly cut down by any surviving Magbots in that particular area since its forcefield was expended by the blast.

The others, elsewhere, though...those are starting to move away from the Magbots, apparently having certain information fed to them by the network they're a part of. They will try to move to a safer distance before...

Doing the exact thing the one that (probably) got wrecked did?

This building is not going to look nice once this is over.

Evolution Industries Riverside Branch Headquarters

"I don't know; why are you always trying to kill me? Who betrayed who, first?" Magtok asks contemptuously, dangling in the air and doing his best to try to orient himself in a way that will let him glare up at the psychic.

"Never met anyone so afraid of just talking to a little girl, either." Magtok taunts, apparently forgetting that Sunny is married and has a child now, and isn't a Magtern anymore. My, how those months fly!

Elsewhere, the Magbots begin to play along, knowing a losing battle when they see one, and preferring to go out with as much collateral damage as possible. They're only more than happy to see the building completely devastated, at a minimal loss to the cyborg himself and his holdings. Damaging the Evolution business was more or less the entire plan here, after all, and they can always make more Magbots.

Sunny finds herself simultaneously being grabbed and telepathed at. DC will probably be able to tell that she just went from distressed at the situation to very personally distressed and feeling scared and endangered.

"Don't touch me! Get out of my head!" she says, both verbally and mentally. And amplified, because she didn't tell the drone to stop amplifying. At this point, people who aren't in her head may be able to tell that she's feeling scared and endangered.

"I'm trying to HELP!"

[Shadowcaller]

Malchenar Castle

Jim is a little creeped out by the skull flowers, but everything else is extremely cool. His tail waves a bit, unbeknownst to him. In the back of his mind Jim can feel the presence of something besides simple, natural plants. Of course, the fact that their guide said there were spirits makes that easy to identify, but the fact that he could feel that they're not purely natural is very interesting.
"Yeah, bees can be nasty little buggers. Hard to deal with raising them near populated areas." he says, more to himself than anyone else.

Sticks is struck dumb by the scale of Malchenar's magical and agricultural resources. Judging by the fields of wheat, corn, and other plants he doesn't recognize stretching into the distance, this place is capable of total self-sufficiency. Now that is impressive. The beauty of Malchenar's gardens takes a close second, rendering him speechless for a few moments as he moves his legs mechanically down the path. He looks, as best he can without being blinded, toward the artificial sun.

"How is it you imitate sunlight? I've never heard of someone succeeding in such endeavors before. The plants..." He looks around at the lush, strange place he's strolling through. "They would always wither and die. As though there were something magic could not replace."

Well, she did say plant spirits were involved. How could they not be? These flowers are enormous! And the corpseflowers are decidedly uncorpselike. It all speaks heavily of magical engineering on a scale he's never seen before.

Malchenar Castle

Celestel gestures up to the sun in the ceiling. "It might sound strange but the light from that sun is collected from a star with the help of our brilliant warlocks." She explains.

Then coming flying towards them from the vegetation is something far larger than bees. They look like two over-sized flying raisins at first glance but at closer look Sticks and Jim and make out both eyes and mouth and even the hint of an nose and black hair.

"Ah, this is Lihanna, she's one of our werath, wind vampires so to speak. Don't worry though. She isn't dangerous, she just guards the gardens." Celestel hurries to explain as the heads watches the pair curiously even if it appears their eyes have been sewn shut. Suddenly one of them opens it's mouth and a female voice comes out.

"Yes... no need to fear. I won't hurt you. Just curious who goes in my garden." But there is no tongue or even mouth movement, the voice somehow appears anyway.

[Deathkeeper]

Malchenar Castle

Jim can't conceal a momentary grimace at the odd being, but he supposes that to many people him and his furry butt are just as much appalling. Perspective matters. So he just bows, although not too deeply.
"Hello. Folks call me Jim."

[Gullara]

"Call me Tina," Fettina says, smiling most pointedly at Lorenzo. "Well, Bello, Lorenzo, would you like to meet a couple friends of mine? We were all dying to meet a couple of guys just like you."

[Club Pulse]

The two vampires (because yes, they are vampires ) exchange another look. "Sure, that sounds great." Lorenzo agrees readily. Bello has no protests either.

Malechenar Fortress

She might hear a faint exhalation, or notice the shadows under the closet door shift slightly. Maybe. It's a very small thing to catch, although the breath sounds as loud as a gunshot to the panicking Cat.

[Malechenar Fortress]

The Cat is lucky. Vax doesn't have senses any stronger than a regular person. She merely looks around for any other signs of disturbance. When she finds none, she's not sure what to think. Rather than looking around, she leaves the room, moving with purpose. Who knows what she intends to do now.

[Evolution Industries]

Tumasi flinches when Sunny's voice booms so close to him, and he does let go. "Listen to me. I know you want to help, but the best thing you can do right now is stay out of the way until this situation is resolved. There's no use rushing in there and getting yourself hurt." He tries to reason with her.

Meanwhile, several cars pull up tot he building and a number of other Enforcers get out. Some are a ways away, blocking off the street and rerouting traffic.

[Arkhosia]

Club Pulse

Well what are we waiting for then?
Caelynn comments, grinning!
Then... her phone rings.
She listens to the call, and pales.
I-I'll be over there, if you guys need me.
She tells Tina and the vampires, clearly shaken as she points to the bar.
She walks over to the bar, and if anyone visits her there, will find her downing a bottle of whiskey.

[Murkus]

[Club Pulse]

Tina hops up, getting ready to introduce the pale gentlemen to Dena and Cassidy, when that girl Caelynn gets a phone call. Oh. Yeesh. Doesn't look like good news. Well, Tina doesn't really know this girl, and it did seem like she wanted to be alone...

"Um, arright. Well hey, c'mon!" The last is said to the vampire duo. Tina tries to put an arm around each of them and lead them back over like a pair of trophies. "Dena, Cassidy, meet Bello and Lorenzo."


Caelynn, meanwhile, might find herself seated beside an odd-looking young man in a dark tank top. He appears human, mostly, though his features are a bit hawkish. The odd thing is that he hasn't got any hair - only a thick, closely trimmed mane of orange feathers that extend from the top of his forehead to a point on the back of his neck.

When he speaks, it's in a quick, kinda nasally voice. "That call musta been really bad, huh?" Oh. Sounds like he was watching them.

Malchenar Castle

Ah. Jim is learning. It makes Sticks smile to see the young man bow in greeting. He does the same, also not very deeply, but respectfully enough.

Sticks was just going to comment on the genius of stealing and containing light directly from a star when the pair of air vampires flew over. Ah. Natural creatures, or a construct of Malchenar? He wonders if it would be rude to ask. In any case, he says, "You keep a beautiful garden, Lady Lihanna. I'm called Sticks. The toymaker. Jim is my apprentice."

[Devixer]

Westside

"Yeah... not surprised. It's not like you've been here all that longer than I have." Mira looks around a bit more. "You know where downtown is? It's as good a place to start as any. We might find a city map there."

"Yeah, I can help you get there," Shark says. "Not as sure about a map, though. They're not very reliable around here, from what I've heard." Of course, Riverside isn't nearly as chaotic as Inside, so maybe there was a map.

Club Pulse

"Hey there, omaea," Cassidy says, getting a closer look at the two vampires. She takes a sip of her scotch and grins at the trio. "How's the night been treating you?"

[The Alexandrian]

[AMENside - Duel]

Hector and Clarissa are left alone in their war-torn little patch of AMENside. All alone but for the dead, the undead, and the redead. After Clarissa slows down his bullet and steps out of its trajectory, Hector returns it to normal time. The silver-haired assassin and recently retired godslayer has very good magical control over time. This is an established fact over in HALO, but of course there was no way for Clarissa to know that. So the demon goddess (I'm not certain what to even call her, but I guess I'll just keep throwing out names and epithets until something sticks) may be surprised by the bullet speeding up and zipping past her before she will release it. It's not enough to squarely hit her, as she did step aside, but perhaps it will graze her temple or crease her cheek before she can get completely out of the way. Perhaps it will leave an ugly red mark on her beautiful face. Perhaps it will serve as a reminder of the dangers of overconfidence. Perhaps if it cannot pierce her skull, it will pierce her condescending mask instead. Clarissa is about to get a fight that will be a great deal more equal than she expects.

Oh? "Grrr! You can not hope to defeat me, puny mortal! But, just for my own amusement, I will deign to handicap myself to give you a fair fight!" And I'm the cliched one? Hector tosses aside his rifle and draws two short swords. You're dealing with a professional now. You'd better bring your A-game.

[AMENside - Immortal Kombat!]

A mundane bullet pierce Clarissa's skull? Hah! I daresay nothing can pierce Clarissa's skull for how can something bore into nothing!

You see, Clarissa has no skull to act as either an object or a subject to any verb whatsoever! What use has an ooze for a skeletal structure (save nourishment, of course)?

Indeed, Clarissa is, for all intents and purposes, an ooze. No other creature is better suited to function as her vessel for a multiplicity of reasons which are not so relevant to this fight to be worthy of discourse at present beyond simple acknowledgement. Of course, there was no way for Hector to know that. It seems that both characters may have underestimated their respective opponent.

While the bullet does graze the substance forming the aesthetic facsimile of skin stretched taut (but not so taut as to be anything but fetching) over a regal cheekbone, it is about as wounding to Clarissa as one might expect given her body's nature. Not a drop of blood drips from her flesh and stains her fair "skin" red. After a moment of convalescence, she is as healthy as she was before the bullet parted her. Nevertheless, she is both visibly and vocally impressed by Hector's skill. A smile crosses her lips, a disturbing (and equally disturbed) smile befitting a feline that has cornered a new toy with which to play.

"Not bad. Not bad at all. Dishonorable, though. If anything, this minor scuffle of our's has damaged our street cred. You and your's have fought dirtier than I have for the entire duration of this skirmish!"

An amused Clarissa laughs! This was too much fun! HALO didn't seem to have an ounce of honor of which to speak! They even, much like Han in the famous revision, shot first!

Now is not the time for menacing laughter, however. Even as Clarissa laughs, she attempts to walk up to Hector, thereby closing the distance between the two. Her claymore's reach is quite a significant amount more than that of Hector's shortswords, I presume. Therefore, after she is within range, she'll attempt to gently poke at his midsection with the tip of her claymore, not that I imagine it'll connect being so slooooow, gentle, and telegraphed.

"Before we start slicing each other up, I do have a question for you, Benny-boy. You're with WATCH, correct? Since when were we considered a potentially apocalyptic threat? I mean, we didn't even mastermind this whole Riverside takeover fiasco. It was your agent who is responsible for this all of that pointless death and destruction, Kenobi, so if you're here to 'make us pay' for that event or something silly like that, either your org is playing you for a fool or there's something very, very wrong with your teensy-tiny brain."

[Lost_Deep]

Westside

"why not? Are the mapmakers all incompetent?" Mira doesn't even suspect the truth.

[Zefir]

'Fraid not. We just arrived here, sir. Would it be best to talk about it inside?
Talos replies.

Eyrecrad Estate

The man nods and will step inside, followed by his robot companion.

"May I first ask you about the task this building should fullfill?" the man ask while they walk through somewhere to talk and hopefully sit down.

[Arkhosia]

Eyrecrad Estate

The man nods and will step inside, followed by his robot companion.

"May I first ask you about the task this building should fullfill?" the man ask while they walk through somewhere to talk and hopefully sit down.

The entryway is a long hallway of white marble, with black marble pillars on either side separated by pedestals containing (locked in bulletproof glass cases with runes) various artifacts.
This leads to a white marble room with a fireplace, couches, and rugs of assorted design.
The Eyrecrads are devoted to learning about the world around us, cataloguing artifacts of magical power, and training wizards and paladins.

[Darkcomet]

[Evolution Industries Riverside Branch Headquarters]

"Oh, yes, I'm afraid of someone for not wanting to rush out to talk in the middle of being attacked. Are you going to call off your bots, or are we just going to wait for the explosions to stop?" DC's going to be trying to drag Magtok outside now, just telekinetically pull him along and then toss him out the door, keeping a gun trained on him the entire time.

Whee.

[Hattish Thing]

Moonshine over BriarStone Street; East Side:

Spoiler: Spoilered for Murder and Blood:

Show

Kyson was a man of about 30, young and energetic. However, nothing about him was bright. Kyson was sick. Not physically, no. But in the mind, Kyson had Schizophrenia, a mental disorder that caused him to constantly live separated from people. He saw things sometimes, things which bothered him. He's grown up hearing voices and seeing things that aren't there, as well as living with an abusive parental figure. All in all, Kyson hasn't had the most caring of people around him. Really not such an unusual thing for people. But the chemical imbalances in his head, combined with abusive relations with other had produced a sick man. Kyson was simple publicly. Worked at a library around the street, rarely spoke and rarely socialized. He lived in a small apartment. No real friends.... And he'd never go back to visit any blood relatives due to their treatment of him as a boy. Prone to violent fits of rage, and episodes of hatred and ill-will to all around him, and hating most people instantly, he was perfectly accustomed to enjoying his life by himself.

He was altogether lonely. But that was okay. It made his hunts easier. He wanted attention all his life, having rarely gotten any. He wasn't very attractive, with low hanging black hair and a plain gaunt face that was far too angular to be pleasing to a regular persons eyes. He'd never been in a relationship, nor had he ever had much of a friend. But it was all the same for Kyson, for he had plenty of people to speak to. Even if no one could see them but him... He had conversations with apparitions and shadows of persons that may once have been. Or may be nothing but figments of his broken yet vivid imagination. In his personal opinion though, he had a connection with those of the dead. He liked dark things, dead things, lonely things... He was attracted to the darkness.

Little did he know he frequently was the darkest thing around.

Anyway, now that we've met the strange figure, perhaps it's easy to imagine how frightening he could be in the right situation.

Kyson wandered the alleyways, his long hunting knife in his hand, looking about for the victim he'd been trailing. Kyson wandered through the place after his prey, his greasy hair slicked back, his eyes dull and dark as they glanced about, always watching for potential witnesses. Nothing tonight. His chosen target was a very handsome man he'd overheard at the small bar Kyson sometimes lurks at. He was a popular man, with brown hair and bright green eyes. Kyson didn't even know his name... But Kyson knew the man was some sort of model-to-be. Had a lover, had a good job, a physicality and face thought attractive by the public. This man was everything Kyson wanted...

And so he'd steal his face, as he did with the several others Kyson had found and murdered. He was a killer, and every few weeks he'd go on a hunt... This target was easy. He was drunk after a night of socializing and chatting. Kyson had his gloves on, and was to burn the large cloak he had on after the deed was done. Surely there'd be blood, and he didn't want to be at all linked...

Up ahead, the brown-haired man stopped for a minute to lean against one of the walls, before promptly throwing up. The man had been walking home, and had chosen this faster way. He was planning on going home and watching something on television. He rose after a minute of hurling and feeling generally regretful of his binge, before turning around. As he turns, his eyes go bug-eyed and wide, and he gasps. He saw a man in a large black cloak, a huge knife in his hand, with his hood down low. He saw the glint of the man's glasses from beneath the hood, moonlight reflecting from it, before he felt cold steel enter him. Stabbing him in the stomach again and again. He didn't even know how many times. He just heard the hooded figures pants and grunts, then he felt his vision blacken and the pain dull down before stopping... He felt himself slumping down to the ground...

And that was that.

Kyson took out a larger blade, a saw. And in a few short minutes, he had decapitated his target. He grabbed the bloody head close and hid it beneath his billowing cloak before walking away from the site, his fingerprints nowhere to be seen.

He snuck back home about 11:20, whistling gleefully and quietly as the moonlight shone down upon his bloody cloak. He felt good. He felt GREAT. This felt amazing! It did every time... He would need to rest though. He was exhausted. He always was after a hunt. Tomorrow, he'd get to work on skinning the man to make the mask he desires... But for now, sleep and disposing of the evidence. He threw the cloak in the washing machine, and cleaned his blades. He then placed the head in a large baggy and stuck it in his closet, behind his sweater rack. It'd wait there till morning. He continued to whistle as he continued his tasks.

Kyson wandered off to take a quick cold shower, (For he couldn't afford many hot showers due to his low income.) He finished, then put on his sweater and pants again. He wasn't going anywhere, but he liked his clothing. They were comfortable to him, like the embracing arms of a companion. He had killed in them, and that comforted him. He wasn't visited by any of his usual ghostly companions tonight, and he heard no voices. He rarely heard voices after he killed. He was content. He made sure his pistol, rifle, and knife collection was secured before finally setting into bed. He turns off his lamp, and slowly falls asleep to disturbing dreams of blood and death...

Spoiler: Kyson:

Show

[Lord Magtok]

Evolution Industries Riverside Branch Headquarters

"Your robots seemed so eager and willing to trash the place, I didn't want to disappoint by declaring a premature retreat." Magtok chuckles, twisting to try to get a good look at the fires before he's thrown to the ground on his face.

"Oww. Why do you keep pretending you're innocent in all of this, DC? We know you hit me first. And second, too, while you were at it. I could've had people working in that part of the MagCave, for all you knew. Cyborgs like myself, who might've rotted to death from exposure to that tech-eroding radiation. If I had, their blood or oil or futuristic, neon-green, techno-organic circulatory fluid would've been on your hands, DC."

Not-Actually-Magtok picks himself off the ground, frowning at his arm briefly as he does so. Did that forearm always have those freckles? He's pretty sure the other MagClones don't have those, and there's only supposed to be one template for Magtok clones, right? Strange...

[Shadowcaller]

[Club Pulse]

Tina hops up, getting ready to introduce the pale gentlemen to Dena and Cassidy, when that girl Caelynn gets a phone call. Oh. Yeesh. Doesn't look like good news. Well, Tina doesn't really know this girl, and it did seem like she wanted to be alone...

"Um, arright. Well hey, c'mon!" The last is said to the vampire duo. Tina tries to put an arm around each of them and lead them back over like a pair of trophies. "Dena, Cassidy, meet Bello and Lorenzo."


Caelynn, meanwhile, might find herself seated beside an odd-looking young man in a dark tank top. He appears human, mostly, though his features are a bit hawkish. The odd thing is that he hasn't got any hair - only a thick, closely trimmed mane of orange feathers that extend from the top of his forehead to a point on the back of his neck.

When he speaks, it's in a quick, kinda nasally voice. "That call musta been really bad, huh?" Oh. Sounds like he was watching them.

Malchenar Castle

Ah. Jim is learning. It makes Sticks smile to see the young man bow in greeting. He does the same, also not very deeply, but respectfully enough.

Sticks was just going to comment on the genius of stealing and containing light directly from a star when the pair of air vampires flew over. Ah. Natural creatures, or a construct of Malchenar? He wonders if it would be rude to ask. In any case, he says, "You keep a beautiful garden, Lady Lihanna. I'm called Sticks. The toymaker. Jim is my apprentice."

Malchenar Castle

Jim can't conceal a momentary grimace at the odd being, but he supposes that to many people him and his furry butt are just as much appalling. Perspective matters. So he just bows, although not too deeply.
"Hello. Folks call me Jim."

"Yeah, I can help you get there," Shark says. "Not as sure about a map, though. They're not very reliable around here, from what I've heard." Of course, Riverside isn't nearly as chaotic as Inside, so maybe there was a map.

Club Pulse

"Hey there, omaea," Cassidy says, getting a closer look at the two vampires. She takes a sip of her scotch and grins at the trio. "How's the night been treating you?"

[Club Pulse]

"Looks like she just did." Dena says with a grin before walking over to the vampires in Tina's company. "What happened to her?" The drow gestures at Caelynn.

Malchenar Castle

"How nice to meet you, Jim, Sticks... these heads are my creations." She says, somehow able to guess what they're thinking. "I am much more but they allow me to be in many places at once. From this place I can keep track on nearly everything that happens in northside." She explains, the head simply keeping it's twisted mouth open, allowing her words to somehow flow out through it. She sounds rather proud of her powers. "Try me, ask me anything."

[The Alexandrian]

[Kidnapping Coldblooded Killer Kyson]

Kyson might wake up with a start to the crash of shattering glass as something smashes its way into his apartment. Whatever this something is, it isn't being at all stealthy about its entrance. It is even less likely to be pleasant in its dealings with this madman...

That is, as far as Kyson is aware.

[Hattish Thing]

[Kidnapping Coldblooded Killer Kyson]

Kyson might wake up with a start to the crash of shattering glass as something smashes its way into his apartment. Whatever this something is, it isn't being at all stealthy about its entrance. It is even less likely to be pleasant in its dealings with this madman...

That is, as far as Kyson is aware.

The man does wake up, his upper body rising oddly to gaze at whatever just entered his room. He was always prepared for Remnant Officials or some sort of Bounty Hunter to burst in, even though no one even suspects him yet. He was good at hiding evidence. Nonetheless, his sleepy and dazed mind reacts to the startling stimuli by reaching for the gun on his bedside table, which he immediately points at whatever just burst in. He fires three times, aiming for the head with one bullet, and the chest with the rest. He doesn't bother speaking. His mind is racing, wondering who this could be and if he had made a mistake during one of his hunts. What if this person WAS a Remnant Official?! He's backing up, his back now to the wall, sitting on his pillows. His hair is all frilly from his sleep, and he doesn't have his glasses on, somewhat blurring his vision.

[Deathkeeper]

Malchenar Castle

Jim grins sheepishly and scratches one of his ears.
"Eh, I don't really know much about Northside to ask about. Sticks?"

[The Alexandrian]

[Kidnapping Coldblooded Killer Kyson]

The figure does not permit itself to move a single muscle as Kyson blasts it. It remains in the shadows, as still as a corpse.

But only until the fear controlling Kyson subsides.

As soon as Kyson begins to feel safe, a psychokinetic force attempts to wrench the pistol out of his hand and drag it under a heavy piece of furniture nearby. The figure then approaches him. One step. Two. Now three. It is tormentingly slow, relentless, and unremitting in its approach.

"You cannot kill me, child. I have come to collect you at long last."

It ominously whispers to him in a dozen tongues at once. One he should be able to decipher. The other eleven are infernal languages spoken only in the most nightmarish infernos.

"Do not resist me. Submit. I will not harm you unless you force me to do so."

[Hattish Thing]

[Kidnapping Coldblooded Killer Kyson]

The figure does not permit itself to move a single muscle as Kyson blasts it. It remains in the shadows, as still as a corpse.

But only until the fear controlling Kyson subsides.

As soon as Kyson begins to feel safe, a psychokinetic force attempts to wrench the pistol out of his hand and drag it under a heavy piece of furniture nearby. The figure then approaches him. One step. Two. Now three. It is tormentingly slow, relentless, and unremitting in its approach.

"You cannot kill me, child. I have come to collect you at long last."

It ominously whispers to him in a dozen tongues at once. One he should be able to decipher. The other eleven are infernal languages spoken only in the most nightmarish infernos.

"Do not resist me. Submit. I will not harm you unless you force me to do so."

Kyson was used to hearing voices and seeing ghosts and visions of things that defy nature. Never before had an apparition or spirit done anything nearly as intimidating or frightening as broken through his windows. His pistol is successfully taken and dragged under his closet. He had a few knives in his draw, but he imagined that reaching for a weapon would only give the creature more reason to use said weapon against him. Kyson raises his hands up slowly, quivering a bit, his jaw clenched as he gently bites down at his cheek, drawing a bit of blood. The apparition doesn't change or disappear. He's obviously frightened as the thing steps close, moving his legs closer to him, not wanting to be close to the monster.

However, he didn't pray, or beg, or do anything a usual person would do in response to this situation. If anything, he seems curious if very cautious. He licks his lips and listens to the spirit speak. Come to collect him? And bring him where? He speaks finally. His voice is calm and collected, but young. It's near monotonous, the tone very rarely rising. Kyson rarely spoke to anyone anyways, so he'd gotten used to simple silence. He glances the spirit over before moving slowly and in full view to turn his lamp on, fully submissive and non-threatening. Take me away? To where?

Apparition.... are you death? His mouth is slightly open, obviously still unsure of how to react.

[Gullara]

[Club Pulse]

"Hey there, ladies." Lorenzo says, smiling at them. Looks like he enjoys female attention. That goes double for Bello. "Things are going great, I'd say. What do you think, Bello?"

"I've got to agree." The taller of the two adds.

((I have to continually remind myself which one is which. ))

[Chaotic Bob]

Evolution Industries Riverside Branch Headquarters

"Your robots seemed so eager and willing to trash the place, I didn't want to disappoint by declaring a premature retreat." Magtok chuckles, twisting to try to get a good look at the fires before he's thrown to the ground on his face.

"Oww. Why do you keep pretending you're innocent in all of this, DC? We know you hit me first. And second, too, while you were at it. I could've had people working in that part of the MagCave, for all you knew. Cyborgs like myself, who might've rotted to death from exposure to that tech-eroding radiation. If I had, their blood or oil or futuristic, neon-green, techno-organic circulatory fluid would've been on your hands, DC."

Not-Actually-Magtok picks himself off the ground, frowning at his arm briefly as he does so. Did that forearm always have those freckles? He's pretty sure the other MagClones don't have those, and there's only supposed to be one template for Magtok clones, right? Strange...

At that particular moment of perplexity, a diminutive figure steps out next to him, from nowhere in particular.
It would appear to be a diminutive, bipedal rabbit, in a cocktail dress and with a little bow in its hair.
"This is all your fault, you ass!"

A man's voice.

And then it snaps forward with all the power its overmuscled, rabbity legs can produce, headbutts the Freckly-Forearmed-One in the stomach, and quickly scampers away.