The Temple of Inari 50: Foxside

[Fenric]

Caroline nods to Helen

Perhaps...

Then to Tavlii

Oh, my. I wasn't sure which path you would prefer, but...

Then Leah arrives, and Caroline is getting enough used to strange comings and goings that she gives the proper greeting.

Hello, neighbor: the blessings of Inari be upon you. I am Caroline, what can I do for you?

[Deathkeeper]

[Sanctuary]

Mist looks over the energy weapons.
"Seem simple enough, but maybe a bit clunky. We'll see if the coat they fix up for me has a good pocket for them."
and then, "Oh, hi Leah. What's up?"

[Recaiden]

[Sanctuary]

Leah isn't sure how to react to the blessings; they don't hurt her, since Inari isn't an opposed power, but it feels really quite weird.
"Hello friend. I thank you.
Fenric says that Myobi has particularly asked for him to pass on to her side, and to have Edouard hurry, and that he leaves the temple in your generation's hands."
Or, wait, are they paws? No, there are the thumbs, good.
Leah walks over towards the group, confidently. This time she didn't even stumble when gravity started to apply to her, which she's very proud of.
"Hello Mist! I'm just delivering last messages for the dead. Also, I have a thing for you. Not from dead people, I mean, just from me. But, uh, you look busy. Nevermind." She gets increasingly flustered over the course of that sentence.

Tavlii shakes her head. "We would prefer not to, but, if there is danger in the other way, I am the best one to risk."

[Ionbound]

[Sanctuary]

Helen bows her head and mutters a brief prayer for Fenric's soul before saying, "I'm glad it sounds like's alright."

[Fenric]

Caroline blinks, and turns to Edouard, who smiles and steps to the center of the magic circle

It has been a pleasure, ladies: best of luck with your quest.

Caroline pushes the mirror out of the circle, which doesn't seem to affect its operation in the slightest, then stands back.

Holy Inari, mother of foxes: let your power fill this place and open now the way between the worlds

The presence of the goddess swells, and the interior of the magic circle flares into blinding light.

[Deathkeeper]

[Sanctuary]

Mist shakes his head. "Relax, Leah, it's alright. We're just making plans for a little dungeon crawl. Should be fine. They're doing their things right now anyway. What's up?" he says quietly to her. He hopes he's not being rude to do so while they're over there doing cleric things.

[Recaiden]

[Sanctuary]

Leah nods, reassured, and takes out a elongated wooden box from the sash of her robe and offers it to Mist.
"I saved a town from murderous undead, and probably made enemies out of the immortal lich who created them. There's this odd amnesiac ghost who's been floating around my space. I feel bad for him, but I can't do anything if not even he remembers who he is or how he died. And I finally have a sword again! One of my very own! So I've been practicing. How are things with you?"
She seems rather excited now.


"Thank you Edouard! Good luck in your world. Ah, farewell, neighbor."

[Deathkeeper]

[Sanctuary]

Mist takes the box with a weak smile.
"Well, we're about to try and sneak into an old network of tunnels to grab a magic world-key from under the nose of a god-construct shaped like a llama. In theory it'll go well, but I've never done anything like this. These people deserve the help, but I'm trying not to be nervous. I think you mentioned having a sword at some point, but I didn't think you'd get such a big one. What's this?" he says, lifting the lid...

[Fenric]

Tavlii might see the silhouette of a man bow before a disorienting distortion ripples through the sanctuary. The light fades quickly, and in the place of Edouard is a young male Vulpan. His resemblance to Fenric is unmistakable but where Fenric was distinctly old, this fox is quite young. Caroline's eyes go very, very wide as he bows politely.

My most humble greetings, Lady Caroline: Frederick Elteron NorZilliar, at you service. We received a message that you required assistance.

Caroline nods, obviously at a loss once again

Um... I'm Caroline Primerra DuRoi. This is Helen, and Tavlii, and Mist, and ... um... a guest.

[Recaiden]

Leah attempts to lay a hand on Mists's shoulder and take away his nervousness. She darts right back afterwards, and looks away shyly.

"It's just a gift."
The box contains a pendant, glimmering brightly.
"Though it might help. It can calm you down, if you are ever feeling too much and don't want to be."

"Do you all want my help with this key thing? I know you said you could handle it, of course, but if you need. The sword is pretty heavy, but loo, the pommel is shaped like a cat. So it's perfect."

Tavlii bows to the new arrival.
"Greetings, Frederick. And welcome to our temple."

[Ionbound]

Helen bows her head to Fredrick and says, "A pleasure to meet you."

[Deathkeeper]

[Sanctuary]

"Thank you, Leah. " says Mist, fastening the thing around his neck, under his shirt with a soft pat.
"And well, one part is the plan is to make sure the construct thing is nowhere near me and my team when we go for the Key. It's powerful, Leah. Someone used the word 'soul-eating.' Do you think you might be able to keep it busy?" Mist doesn't quite get Leah, but she always seems more than she lets on, and she keeps letting on more and more power...

[Fenric]

Frederick chuckles

I remember who you are, Great-Aunt Carol.

He nods to Helen and to Tavlii, polite but at the same time full of mischeif.

Hello, and well met! I'm told my grandfather stopped off here on the way to Heaven, which would be trite if Grandma wasn't who she was...

He overhears Mist and Leah

Ooooh... nasty. That's what we're doing?

[Recaiden]

[Sanctuary]

Leah nods. "I can do that."
It is frightening; maybe she can't, but she won't let on to that in front of Mist.
She does seem to be growing in power, although always with the help of someone else, and it lets her do her jobs. Not achieve the things she cares about, but it's something. Must be odd, seeing how Mist is usually about the same each time she sees him.
"I'd be glad to help."

She turns and nods to Frederick.

Tavlii has nothing to say, just waiting for Caroline's decision.

[Ionbound]

[Sanctuary]

Helen nods solemnly, and says, "There is an angry shadow of a Llama-priest in the tunnels under the playground. It claims to eat souls. Whether it does or not, I don't want to find out. But it killed a bunch of people from the organization that killed Fenric."

[Deathkeeper]

[Sanctuary]

Mist smiles. His vulpine face can't really do it, but Leah always knows when he is. "Thanks, Leah. Having you around makes me feel better. Just get outta there if things go sideways, ok?"

[Fenric]

Frederick frowns, his ears pinning back

Killed my grandfather, did they? I'm glad to hear they got eaten.

Caroline gets her composure back after the surprise

Tavlii: you, Leah, and Frederick should go distract the construct. Mist, you should take Helen and go for the Theatre: it's best to be a small group because too many people going that way will attract attention. We know that the key is somewhere roughly under the temple, so if you follow a tracer back here, it should be close. As for the item itself...

She turns to the mirror

Show us the staff of evil light.

The mirror blurs and then shows a chamber of purest white marble. Upon a stand in the middle is a staff of white wood with a natural crystal cluster at one end and a silvery-white metallic foot.

Hm... well, you'll certainly know when you get there.

[Recaiden]

[Sanctuary]

Leah breaks into a full smile upon hearing that.
"Will do. You keep yourself safe too."
She faces Caroline and nods. With a glance back to Mist, she walks over to stand between Frederick and Tavlii.

"Um, milday, perhaps one of us should stay in the temple?"

[Ionbound]

[Sanctuary]

Helen nods and says, "Absolutely, Lady Caroline." She then turns to Mist and says, "Shall we go get geared up?"

[Fenric]

Caroline blinks, frowns, then goes "ooh"

No... I can't run the entire temple all by myself. Frederick and Leah... can you handle the construct by yourself?

Frederick grins

You want me to dismantle a construct? What is this, sixth-year unweaving class? Aunt Carol: I went to the Collegium.

Caroline frowns

And you're not quite two hundred yet, young man! Don't get cocky.

[Deathkeeper]

[Sanctuary]

Mist takes everything in. He nods to Leah in thanks, and then to Helen. He's ready.

[Recaiden]

[Sanctuary]

"Right. I'll stay up here and keep things going with you." Tavlii shakes her head at the silly fox. Caroline is much older than expected; vulpans must live a long time. To be able to call a 200-year-old young...someday.

Leah chuckles and nods. "If he can handle it himself, we can definitely manage it."

[Ionbound]

Helen nods back to Mist, and says, "Alright, I'll lead Mist to the armory, unless anyone has anything else to say?" With that, unless someone does something to stop her, she heads off in the direction of the armory.

[Fenric]

[Sanctuary]

Yup: time for Helen and Mist to get going.

Frederick chuckles

So: where is this thing?

Caroline looks toward the south

There's a clearing near the southwest corner of the complex, in the overgrowth. You should be able to find it fairly easily now that Edouard and Helen chopped a path in. There are artificial lights on the walls left by the DART agents: follow them until you get to a place where there is a strip of mirror embedded in the walls, ceilings, and floor. The construct is beyond that, and cannot cross it.

Frederick arches an eyebrow

You mean we get to stand there as long as we need to and take pot-shots at this thing, and it can't get us?

[Recaiden]

"It might still be able to strike back, even if it can't cross the mirror. So don't get too cocky"
Leah heads off towards the corner and entrance, waving Frederick along behind her.

[Fenric]

Caroline frowns disapprovingly

And it might just run away?

Frederick scurries after Leah

Yeah, yeah. See ya later, Aunt Carol.

[Ionbound]

A Certain Scholar makes her way into the sanctuary, asking whoever is there, "Hello, can you help me? I have a bit of a problem, and I suspect it falls within your patron's sphere."

[Fenric]

[Sanctuary]

Caroline looks up from her meditation, which seems to have involved watching one of the male acolytes fix a cracked beam with a somewhat whistful look. She smiles politely

Greetings, neighbor: the blessings of Inari be upon you. What can we do for you today?

[FireFox]

[Entrance]

A young girl comes cheerfully skipping up to the temple. She's wearing a black longcoat tailored to her petite frame. Her long, dark hair is gathered up in a ponytail and secured with a metal ring. She has a length of metal wire coiled around her left wrist as a bracelet. A black handgun is holstered on her right thigh, underneath her schoolgirl skirt. Of particular note are her fox eyes and a faint, mostly suppressed divine aura.

[Ionbound]

Certain swallows hard, and Caroline might get the sense that she's biting back a large amount of pride, before she bows and says, "I...am under the influence of a curse, one placed upon me by a god and that I haven't really been able to get rid of it. And since I thought that the curse might fall inside Inari's sphere, I came here in hopes that she could overwrite it."