Riverside 16: Turn and face the strain

[ThirdEmperor]

[The Dragon Inn]

"I dunno. Uh, we get plenty of people with powers around here, and really, not a lot of people are actually supers." Like Magtok, maybe. And that's about it for people running around in silly costumes these days. "And that's not true. I, uhm, I think you've done fine. I mean, well, it's not like I did a lot, right away." He shrugs, feeling silly about opening his mouth in the first place. It's not really his to say.

[Cyber Punk]

[The Dragon Inn]
Malechenar Castle, exterior.

As the vampire flies closer to the castle he will be approached by living flying gargoyles who ass seems very intent on watching him. They do not stop him however, just escorting him as he makes his way towards the castle. But before he can actually land upon the beautifully carved, if gothic, building, he is approached by another watched, a misshapen shrunken head which somehow is flying in the air.

The mouth opens, and words are uttered, but as it has no tongue the words are probably not it's own. "You are most fortunate that we did not think you as an enemy, flying stranger. Or you would not have made it this far. Not many dare to approach the castle in such a brazen manner so I ask you this, why are you here stranger? What purpose has caused you to simply approach Malechenar uninvited?" The smooth voice is a woman's, very much unlike the hideous head it's talking from.

(Ah. I now see what you meant, SC. Post edited.)

Malechenar Castle, exterior.

"Greetings. I had heard that I could meet others of my kind, of various types here. It's been so long since I saw a gargoyle, and it's been so long since I saw another vampire." He replies, hoping what he'd heard from the grapevine was more than just hearsay.

[Shadowcaller]

Malechenar Castle, exterior

"'Vampire'?" The female voice repeats in a amused tone. "I suppose some of our inhabitants could identify as that, but the word carries far too many negative connotations for my own taste. It has a rather bad reputation, no? Either you're a monster or a pretentious but sexual wimp. But enough about that, I'm guessing that you're not from Westside? You look like one of them but your story suggests that you're further away than that. I'm Lihana by the way and this is Malechenar castle." The head does not move but it's probably the castle behind it.

[The Dragon Inn]

"I guess I could use more training. We've barely pulled anything off so far. Those bees are just too zealous and many, no way we can get past those killing machines." She scratches her neck as she for a moment looks down at the table. She then meets his gaze once again. "You don't have any other schemes we could work on while we try to work out the kinks on that one?"

[Suncrest Manor]

"Nadia." The goddess starts, her voice heavy, as if she had trouble breathing. "I know that you hate me but... they've taken Eliseo." She looks right into the camera, her otherwise so perfect features stricken with sorrow. "We have to save him. I need your help."

[Cyber Punk]

"Mmm... lovely name. Hello Lihana, I'm Sharpe, and I've never been to Westside. Thought I'd come here first, I did." Sharpe replies, an eyebrow raised as a result of her reaction to the word 'vampire'. At first glance he looked normal, apart from his reddish-white irises, part of the reason he always wore the aviators. "May I come in, Lihana?" He asks, taking off his shades and putting it in one of his belt pouches, making sure to look at the head as he did so.

[Gullara]

[Suncrest Manor]

"Nadia." The goddess starts, her voice heavy, as if she had trouble breathing. "I know that you hate me but... they've taken Eliseo." She looks right into the camera, her otherwise so perfect features stricken with sorrow. "We have to save him. I need your help."

[Suncrest Manor]

A cold terror grips Nadia's heart. Someone has her baby. She feels sick. A part of her always feared this might happen, but she never thought it really would.

Tzlolth gets no reply from Nadia, though she's not made to wait for long. Nadia hurries out to the gate, even now not willing to let the goddess into her home. "Where is he?!" Her terror is thick in her voice.

[ThirdEmperor]

[The Dragon Inn]

Hey, there's that topic he's been dodging. "Oh, yeah. Uh, yeah. Over there, that was something. Really bad. Worse, um, a bit worse than I was expecting, definitely." What had he been expecting? The Cat grimaces inwardly, as it slowly dawns that he really did think the barrels would just be sitting out in the open for the taking. At this point, he should be well aware he's not nearly that lucky.

"I think, uhm, yeah, you're pretty much right. We need to try something else. Don't really know what." And it sucks. Being defeated totally, totally sucks.

[Devixer]

[Street Outside Sticks'/Northside Museum]

"Got it. I'll head there in person, I'm nearby," Dipsnig responds, then looks up at Dena. "Cassidy got into trouble trying to grab that Cat Burglar guy. I might as well go there personally. I could use the exercise."

"Right then. I'll hold tight till you get here," Cassidy says before cutting the connection. She swears at herself as she checks the gel ammo in her pistol. She didn't like calling for backup, especially not from Dipsnig. But she also wanted this op to actually succeed.

[Shadowcaller]

Malechenar Castle, exterior

"Why, thank you mister Sharpe." Lihana replies with mirth, not that the flying head expresses any of it. "But I must ask, as a formality, what is your business inside Malechenar?"

[Suncrest Manor]

"A demon took him to get to me. I know where he is, but I strongly suspect that it's a trap. They're intending to kill both me and him once I get there." The goddess pauses and looks Nadia in the eyes. "While I know that you despise me nadia, but I also know that you love Eliseo more so I'm begging for your help here so that we may save him. I'm calling all the favors I can in this world just to have a chance to save our son and destroy those monsters."

[The Dragon Inn]

Cybil scratches her neck again. "If we got some primal earth, we could start pulling heists in Skyside as it would allow me to be in the air for longer periods of time."

[Northside Museum]

The Cat burglar will be helped out of the earth here, nowhere in sight of Cassidy of course. Cybil is still in her vampire form however so she can't communicate anything.

[Gullara]

[Suncrest Manor]

"Don't you ever call him your son." Nadia snaps, her voice full of venom. "How do we save him?" She may hate Tzlolth fiercely, but saving Eliseo matters more than anything else.

[ThirdEmperor]

[The Dragon Inn]

"Oh great. Uh, that also solves some problems with the whole, y'know, Malechenar thingie." Like them having a floating fortress despite their servants being earthbound. And him having no clue how to get his way in again on his own. "So, where do we find some?"


[Museum Heist]

The Burglar looks about as disgruntled as he always is with underground travel, taking a knee to gasp precious air back into his lungs and shove his hat back into place. He glances over the scene, to the broken display case and spray of glass shards, and the notable lack of the jewels among them. '"Yeah, uhm, she's got them. Great." Purposefully walking into two traps on the same day. Here comes a new low in common sense. You wanna, er, take the lead here? She seems sneaky, and you've got the whole, I dunno, the whole sixth sense."

[Morty]

[Street Outside Sticks ==> Northside Museum]

"At least it appears she managed to get a bead on him," Dipsnig says. "With me and Viima there, maybe we'll corner him."

With that, Dipsnig directs Viima towards Cassidy's location and the wolf takes off at an impressive speed.

[UncleWolf]

Lotus Gardens

"I certainly don't to force you two to meet Jezebel." Cessie remarks at Jezebel's choice of words. "I merely thought you'd like to meet one another as you might find quite a few things in common." Maybe. Sakura and Cessie technically didn't have that much in common but she got along very well with the dryad so she couldn't see why Jezebel couldn't get along with her as well.

Lotus Gardens

"I'll meet her. And I promise I'll try to make a good impression." Jezebel says with a small smile. "I think...I think I'm going to have one last night of revelry before I get too busy with training. Maybe tonight or sometime later. Just a lot to do." She admits as she stands and stretches, shifting back to her goddess form. "Again, have a good night. You too, Garn. I'll be sure to bring a hat to go with that scarf the next time I see you."

Quinn's
Quinn relaxes, letting Jezebel's arm slip around her, and she closes her eyes as she thinks. "Hmm. Well...honestly, I'd say about the same. If I changed things...there are some things I look back on and think I could have done better, but then I wouldn't be here, where I am, would I?" she says softly. "There were a few things in my youth, but...I suppose I turned out alright for them." She smiles, sighing softly. "We are what we are, and if we had chosen different, we wouldn't be ourselves. I suppose the important thing is to enjoy ourselves, where we are."

Quinn's

Jezebel reaches out for her glass and takes another drink of it before laying back once more, closing her eyes. Meanwhile the two maids from earlier come out and lay a blanket over her and Quinn as the goddess smiles. "I think it's about time we got some rest." She points out as her smile turns into a smirk and the maids lay down with the pair. "We both have long days ahead of us, and I imagine we could use the energy."

[Earl of Purple]

Southside, side of the river- Box o' Lizards

A woman approaches the man in white. She's a drow, with black skin, long white hair divided into many thin braids each ending with a delicate gold bell that tinkles delicately as she moves. Her eyes, though, are unusual- they are a vivid green. Her facial structure is delicate. She is wearing a red silk kimono embroidered with black, Oriental-style dragons, and hanging from a white silk sash is a flintlock pistol, the device crafted entirely from bronze, with a barrel reminiscent of a Western dragon roaring defiance.

"May I see one of the lizards?" She smiles and curtsies (I know it's the wrong culture; I don't care) at the man.

[Shadowcaller]

[Suncrest Manor]

"Don't you ever call him your son." Nadia snaps, her voice full of venom. "How do we save him?" She may hate Tzlolth fiercely, but saving Eliseo matters more than anything else.

[The Dragon Inn]

"Oh great. Uh, that also solves some problems with the whole, y'know, Malechenar thingie." Like them having a floating fortress despite their servants being earthbound. And him having no clue how to get his way in again on his own. "So, where do we find some?"

[Museum Heist]

The Burglar looks about as disgruntled as he always is with underground travel, taking a knee to gasp precious air back into his lungs and shove his hat back into place. He glances over the scene, to the broken display case and spray of glass shards, and the notable lack of the jewels among them. '"Yeah, uhm, she's got them. Great." Purposefully walking into two traps on the same day. Here comes a new low in common sense. You wanna, er, take the lead here? She seems sneaky, and you've got the whole, I dunno, the whole sixth sense."

[Street Outside Sticks ==> Northside Museum]

"At least it appears she managed to get a bead on him," Dipsnig says. "With me and Viima there, maybe we'll corner him."

With that, Dipsnig directs Viima towards Cassidy's location and the wolf takes off at an impressive speed.

Lotus Gardens

"I'll meet her. And I promise I'll try to make a good impression." Jezebel says with a small smile. "I think...I think I'm going to have one last night of revelry before I get too busy with training. Maybe tonight or sometime later. Just a lot to do." She admits as she stands and stretches, shifting back to her goddess form. "Again, have a good night. You too, Garn. I'll be sure to bring a hat to go with that scarf the next time I see you."[/COLOR]

[Suncrest Manor]

Tzlolth seems to ignore Nadia's first statement. "I have a plan, but I'm going to need your and others help for it..." The plan will be explained off-screen however. =O

Lotus Gardens

Cessie chuckles at Jezebel's comment to Garn, who doesn't seem as amused. "I think I shall spare myself from the revelry, but have a good night nonetheless, Jezebel." Cessie says before disappearing into the portal with the gargoyle.

[Street Outside Sticks ==> Northside Museum]

"Good luck. I'll be there as soon as I can." Which was slower than a running wolf, but calling a cab might help. Though that would take a while too as she would have to call it from a phone.

[The Dragon Inn]

"I know Malechenar has some, but not where. We might find some in my old world too, but that would be troublesome as well. Or we could try asking around here if someone have their hands on it. But it's unlikely, I have been trying to get my hands on some of it for weeks with little success." Cybil explains. "It looks like, well, earth, but it has a blue-ish tone. I should mention it's rather dangerous to get your hands on."

[Museum Heist]

Cybil shifts shapes, quickly becoming a human woman once again who is sitting on her knees in the middle of the hole. "She's right outside. Alone. If we hurry, we can get her before reinforcements arrive."

[The Bushranger]

Quinn's

Jezebel reaches out for her glass and takes another drink of it before laying back once more, closing her eyes. Meanwhile the two maids from earlier come out and lay a blanket over her and Quinn as the goddess smiles. "I think it's about time we got some rest." She points out as her smile turns into a smirk and the maids lay down with the pair. "We both have long days ahead of us, and I imagine we could use the energy."

Quinn smiles gratefully at the maids, and chuckles softly as she nods. "I suppose that might be a good idea. After all, having energy is always a good thing, isn't it?" the brunette asks with a smile as she stretches out with a contented sigh, closing her eyes and enjoying the warmth.

[Murkus]

((Sorry this one took me so long, guys. Let's get this fight back on the rails))

[The Pack - Leaving Southside]

The day is won! The foe is driven to his knees, hurt furiously, surely approaching defeat and a harsh death. Gaerrfen draws his blade back, portions of it eaten by the lightsaber's light, slowly regenerating as though alive. But before he can strike again, something happens that he does not anticipate. In a tempest of blood and light, Seyren the Sith warrior tears his way free from the jaws of ragged doom. Gaerrfen is so startled he does not have time to brace himself for the foot that comes flying out, and in silence he's sent soaring away.

There is a rush of air and a clatter as his old bones hit the dirt. The wraith sits up, one knee arched, to see he alone facing the one with the burning sword and the eyes ruined with rage. Okami and his people are merely attempting to defend themselves, their legs torn, huddled together as they bleed.

Gaerrfen dives forward, snatching his sword from the dirt and tucking into a roll. He comes up with his blade held before him, feet planted, positioned as best he can between Okami's family and their adversary.

[Eastside Hospital]

"It's been a very long time since I murdered anyone, you filthy thing," Sticks corrects the monster, cracking the flat end of his spear on the ground with a quick jerk of his arm. Even as one of his horribly aborted little toys is crunched up in it's mouth, he whirls his spear and jams it underneath the creature's throat. If his toys can't grab it's limbs and stop it thrashing, maybe the threat of being annihilated will.

"If you have some better method of immobilizing this creature, Tep, I would greatly appreciate it," The tall man watches the chimera carefully.

Again, he addresses his new friend. Provided it hasn't broken free of his contraptions and lunged again. "The fox... whore, yes, beast?" He hates that filthy word, too. "Why does her touching your master upset you so?" Ah. Sticks is putting voice to one of his educated guesses.

[Deathkeeper]

Eastside Hospital

Tep nods, outstretching a hand again. A few more spectral hands appear to restrain the creature's limbs, though individually they are smaller and less strong than the large one from before.

[Shadowcaller]

[Eastside Hospital]

The wizards first statement appears to enrage the creature who looks to be about to do something else and as it already has shown itself to be full of surprises, that is probably a bad thing.
But as Sticks ask his question, it suddenly stops and stares at him. It's gaze still hateful, but there is a hint of cunning there.
"You murdered one of us, metal man." The creature begins. "To protect the treacherous spirit fox, she who drains the master of energy. Slowly murdering him, possessing all his thoughts..." It belches. "Don't believe what she tells you, she is no different from us. She does not care about the master or you, she just desires your energy."

[Cyber Punk]

Malechenar Castle, exterior

"Why, thank you mister Sharpe." Lihana replies with mirth, not that the flying head expresses any of it. "But I must ask, as a formality, what is your business inside Malechenar?"

Malechenar Castle, exterior

"Well, you could call me a Vampire Researcher. Don't care what the name connotes, I don't. I'm proud of what I am, and I'd like to be around others that feel the same. I was told I could find that here." Sharpe pauses for a moment, apparently lost in thought. "To be honest I use Vampire Researcher loosely, I'm just a vamp adventurer who wants to broaden his knowledge of the other kinds of vampires out there."

[Recaiden]

Southside, side of the river- Box o' Lizards

A woman approaches the man in white. She's a drow, with black skin, long white hair divided into many thin braids each ending with a delicate gold bell that tinkles delicately as she moves. Her eyes, though, are unusual- they are a vivid green. Her facial structure is delicate. She is wearing a red silk kimono embroidered with black, Oriental-style dragons, and hanging from a white silk sash is a flintlock pistol, the device crafted entirely from bronze, with a barrel reminiscent of a Western dragon roaring defiance.

"May I see one of the lizards?" She smiles and curtsies (I know it's the wrong culture; I don't care) at the man.

"Of course!"

The man in white nods to the drow and reaches into the box to withdraw a lizard. He's not human, but he's pretending to be right now, and the disguise is quite perfect if all you can do is see it.

The lizard is pale, grey scales with blue stripes down its back and along its tail. About a foot long, plus some tail, its feet swimming at the air for a moment as it's picked up. It lifts its head up and poses in the sunlight. The animal is less flat than one might expect, looking more like a streamlined wingless little dragon.

[Earl of Purple]

Southside, Buying Lizards

Coincidentally, the drow herself isn't really a drow, but the only clue to this, besides the magic transfiguring her form are her eyes- drow typically have darker eyes of black or red or purple, not bright green ones. She does have some spells up to identify magic, but it's more focussed on identifying magic items than seeing through disguises.

The 'drow' holds her hand out. "May I hold it?"

[Shadowcaller]

Malechenar Castle, exterior

"Oh, a seeker of knowledge. What an noble endeavor. The masters will appreciate that." The head starts to fly downwards. "Just follow me mister Sharpe, you should have told me what you did right away!" If he follows it, it will lead him underneath the castle where he will notice that there is a floating platform that wasn't there before and an opening into Malechenar right underneath it.

[Cyber Punk]

Malechenar Castle

"Always wonderful to see someone else who appreciates the value of knowledge." Sharpe says with a sort of happiness to his voice as he follows the floating head. "Ah I see, not just anyone can enter. Smart." Sharpe thinks aloud after noticing the floating platform and the opening. He was sure he could see nothing at that spot beforehand.

Sharpe turns his gaze back to the head. "If you don't mind my asking, Lihana, what is this place exactly? I have an idea, but I get the feeling I know less than I thought."

[Recaiden]

[Southside, Buying Lizards]

"Right you can."
The lizard is held out in two hands to the not!drow, where it flickers a tongue out curiously before stepping onto her hand.

[Earl of Purple]

Southside, Buying Lizads

The not!drow smells of copper and soil, also clues to her true identity. "It's gorgeous. How long do they live for? My own kind live for a very long time, and I'd not like a pet that lives for only a few years." It's not the only question she has, but it is presently the most pressing. She will delicately stroke it with her other hand, gently running down the shock lizard (I think)'s flank.

[Shadowcaller]

Malechenar Castle

As he flies in, he will find himself in a large round room with many doors. There are a series of large black crystals in the very center of the ceiling encased in some sort of blue ice. There are a number of humans inside the room, all male and dressed in blue uniforms which likely makes them guards. They watch the newcomer without comment as Lihana (or the head she seems to be controlling) leads him further inside. "Malechenar is the home of many rich and powerful people who can do their dealings here while safe from the world below. To be able to satisfy the demands of such people however, this building must be equipped with a world-class kitchen, a bank, portals to wherever they wish to go and most important of all, security. Not to mention all other eccentric requests our guests might come with. While most guests here are human, there are various sorts of other races here, like me for instance, a wirath or 'wind vampire' if you prefer. But I'm simply a part of the staff." Lihanas voice speaks from the head.

[Recaiden]

[Southside, Buying Lizards]

"They can live for quite a long time if well taken-care-of. Three score years is about the limit. For which it's most important that they get plenty to drink, and enough space to move around. They're quite the capable jumpers, even if they don't look like it."
The creature that isn't a shock lizard (though that would be a fine name for them) chirps upon being petted, which should result in a mild tingling static discharge.

[Cyber Punk]

"Hmm, wind vampire. Never heard of a wraith referred to as such. And I'm sure you've never heard of a knife vampire... which I am." He chuckles. Yes, he may be a knife vampire, but the words knife and vampire used in the same sentence still made him chuckle to this day.

"Rich and powerful, eh? I'm sure I'll be at home here." He says with mirth in his voice. "Tell me of the masters you speak of."

[Shadowcaller]

Malechenar Castle

"I cannot guarantee anything I'm afraid, I have no real authority who gets to stay or not. But the masters, they're the ones that makes that decision. They're unavailable at the moment though, but what do you like to know? They're both very private persons, and vampires too. Their kin has rather bad reputation however." Lihana replies as she she leads him towards one of the doors, one of the guardsmen opening the door for them. The door leads into a corridor with vegetation of various sort growing on the ceiling and the walls, seemingly as decoration.

[Cyber Punk]

Malechenar Castle

"Bad rep... I can understand that too well. I just wanted to know how soon I can get to meet them, and the other residents too. My, the vegetation really is something." Sharpe says as he looks around the room they just entered, especially at the various greens growing on the ceiling. " Heh, this seems to me like a tour of sorts. I'm liking what I see so far. So much knowledge to be gained... but not to be used for ill. I can't abide that."