Riverside 19

[Gullara]

Riverside, a small, modern city, some ways away from the sprawl of Inside. The city has always been in a state of flux since it came to be a part of the Nexus. Powers have risen and fallen, disasters have struck, and the climate has always been unstable. Because of all this, the people of Riverside are a hardy lot. They know what it takes to survive, and it's not always pleasant. 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. A city like this is not a safe and stable place, but for many it's home and for some it's even opportunity.

Welcome to Riverside.

Current Events

• The city is under attack by an organized army.

The Districts

Spoiler

Show

Northside

Northside is the most prosperous part of the city. Many of the city's wealthiest live there, especially toward the center of the district. There a castle floats in the sky, housing the government of most of the entire city, Malechenar. Northside benefits from the careful eye of its rulers. There have been great strides taken toward making it the safest and most attractive part of the city.

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. It has been a poorer area for most of it's existence, but fairly recently they have rallied under a democratic government and, as a result, their lot has improved.

Southside

Southside has fallen far behind the development of the rest of the city. First it was emptied by it's queen's parting, and then claimed by villains. Now, however, the remaining major powers of the city have begun to lay their claim to the once empty territory. New construction has sprung up and people are gradually moving back in. It isn't free from turmoil, but progress is being made.

Westside

Westside is unique compared to the rest of the districts because it is covered by a cloak of darkness. During the day the Light of Evolution, an artificial sun suspended in the sky, provides light. However, it is still home to a higher density of people that are adverse to the light for a number of reasons.

The district has fallen on hard times since its government was absorbed into Malechenar. While the peace is being maintained, to an extent, it isn't given the same level of attention that Northside is despite security being hired out to MERC. As a result, it can be quite unstable there at times.

Wildside

Though not a district in the traditional sense, Wildside is a distinct and relevant part of the city. Along the city's border, the cityscape gives way to forest. Sometimes it's a gradual blending, in other places it's a sharp cut separated by fences and small walls. Though roads and trails do cut through it, it's not recommended to travel through the trees at risk of provoking Wildside's guardian.

Previously there have been failed attempts to break through Wildside to allow the city proper to expand. They were largely unsuccessful. As a result, the city has been trending toward growing upward, rather than outward.

Places Within
Riverside is a very modern city, and thus a person can find most of the expected amenities. All manner of stores, a hospital, parks and playgrounds, churches, you name it. Most of these places are run and attended to by the residents of the city, regular people without players to guide them most of the time. Players are free to invent and discard these places and the people in them as suits the needs of their roleplaying. Some have been named already, Moth Park, the Golden Flagon Tavern, Sawyer's Inn, but many more are out there.

There are a number of places that have been defined by players, and can be observed and interacted with. Some of these have been listed below for reference.

Spoiler: Location List

Show

Northside

• Malechenar Castle ^Shadowcaller
  
  Spoiler

  Show

  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.
• Third Circle ^{LordDeathkeeper}
  
  Spoiler

  Show

  The Third Circle is a small, unassuming building, its sign over the door in bold red paint and its front window mostly kept clear to prevent the sunlight from fading any colors. It advertises all written words at affordable prices, and for adventurers to inquire within about jobs.
  
  The interior is a soft wooden-brown with reds, and smells like a library full of old books. Most of the furniture is as you'd expect, save for the counter, which is normal height but has only minimal space behind it, likely due to the fact that the clerk is a two-foot-tall imp. Next to the counter is a large bulletin board covered in paper slips.

Eastside

• Abandoned Hospital ^Shadowcaller
  
  Spoiler

  Show

  Eastside Hospital was build on the ground of the old hospital which burned to the ground long ago. But after strange things started to happen inside the building and a financial crisis, the building was abandoned and all it's patients moved to the Northside Hospital. The building was supposed to have converted into office space but by that time people had started to refuse to set their foot in the haunted halls.
  So now the building stands empty, the only residents are wild animals. Yet despite no one living there there have still been reports of strange things happening at night to the degree that even the homeless has chosen to stay out of the building that is said to be haunted by the ghosts of those who perished in that fire many years ago.
  The building itself consists of three wings and a separate maternity ward building which remained after old hospital burned to the ground.
  The majority of the windows are cracked and there and the empty corridors are filled with junk left behind by the staff as well as graffiti and old rags left by the homeless (or teenagers).
• Cosiellio's Temple ^Halae
  
  Spoiler

  Show

  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.
• Light's Heart ^Shadowcaller
  
  Spoiler

  Show

  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.
• Lotus Gardens ^UncleWolf
  
  Spoiler

  Show

  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.
• Parliament Buildings ^UncleWolf
  
  Spoiler

  Show

  Converted from several buildings in the middle of the district, it serves as the seat of the administration. The Mayor resides there.
  
  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.
  
  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.

Southside

• DMside ^Zefir
  
  Spoiler

  Show

  DMside is a small district located in the east of Southside, close to the city's edge. It's main building is an iron cathedral of Deus Mechanicus. Around the cathedral are a number of factories, labs, and shops that work on robotics. A shield generator in front of the cathedral serves as its main defense against attacks.
• Xar'cha Residence ^Reinholdt
  
  Spoiler

  Show

  Home to the demon hunter Ilpholin Xar'cha, this large building appears more like a fortress than a residence. The entire thing being shaped like a spider where it expects you to enter through its mouth may be off-putting, but if one makes it up to the front door they will be warmly greeted by the local AI.
  
  The immediate inside is much more welcoming with carefully arranged furniture designed around receiving guests. The majority of the rooms past this point serve a variety of purposes as they stretch deeper and deeper underground.

Westside

• Cathedral of the Sacred Order of Cunningham ^happyturtle
  
  Spoiler

  Show

  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.
  

  Spoiler

  Show

  [IMG][/IMG]
• Club Pulse ^Shadowcaller
  
  Spoiler

  Show

  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.
• Evolution Industries ^Darkcomet
  
  Spoiler

  Show

  Three main buildings make up Evolution Industries' holdings in Riverside. The first is the main administrative building. A nondescript office building bearing the EI logo.
  
  Next there is the Evolution Industries power plant. It is a heavily reinforced building that houses a Class 3 MACE unit. It is an incredibly potent power source that provides power to most of Riverside.
  
  Lastly there is the Light of Evolution's control center. The artificial sun that lights up Westside's days is maintained by EI and powered by it's power plant. A bright blue beam of energy links the structure and the sun above.
  
  Posts for EI's property should occur in this thread.
• MagMart ^{Lord Magtok}
  
  Spoiler

  Show

  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
  
  Spoiler

  Show

  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.

Wildside

• Underground Hive ^{Slii Arhem}
  
  Spoiler

  Show

  Beneath the massive network of roots that bind the trees together are deep, winding tunnels that serve as a home to the bee colonies being kept by the orchard's guardian. These megalithic hives have even extended slightly under the city limits, and complaints about deep, sonorous buzzing in those sections of the city have increased substantially.
• Riftline Station
  
  Spoiler

  Show

  Not in Wildside proper, but on the fringes of the city is the bustling Riftline station. This huge station facilitates a lot of transportation in and out of the city, making commutes to Inside and other locations very quick.

Archive

Spoiler

Show

Riverside 18
Riverside 17
Riverside 16: Turn and face the strain
Riverside 15
Riverside 14
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

This thread is managed by Gulaghar. He will create the new thread when this one reached 50 pages. Please contact him for updates to the OP.

[Nova_Eclipse]

[Electra's Apartment - Before the Job]

Electra nods as she polishes off her meal, and places her plate in the sink, then moves over to the peninsula, opposite Fayyaad, leaning forward, placing her hand in her chin and fixing him with a smile and those deep blue eyes of hers.

"Any places you're seriously considering, yet?"

[Reinholdt]

[Tour of Demon Madness]

Nadas is driven back before the sweeping sword, and is happy to put some distance between himself and Ilpholin.
"You've forced me to this, you know."
His burning hand gutters out but is kept out front of him to ward away attacks. His other hand goes to the cut in his side. Not as much blood as you might think. Good; the healing magic is working. It was supposed to turn moderately-bad, serious-looking wounds inflicted by Fade to minor scratches, making his 'death' more believable, but helping seal up horrible lacerations is even better.

"Nadas betrayed me. MERC failed me. You're just out of your mind. So what else is left?"
He hops and twists and strikes the spear away - just a matter of striking it right behind the head to send the point careening off past his hips - a simple defense, one of the few guards he's actually good at, easy when you've got this much distance.

The old Nadas was afraid of it. Spent his whole life burying the demonic essence impossibly deep. Not so since the ritual. It almost overcame 'Nadas' right away, rising up with his anger. But then he looked, experimented, studied desperately. He was afraid of it too. But it turns out he's more afraid of dying. Ilpholin can surely detect when Nadas stops resisting, indeed, actively calls up his demonic nature, flooding through him, reshaping him with every beat of his heart. Wings rip their way out of his robes, his eyes overflow with darkness, skin fades to black before breaking out in spotted gold. After one spurt of not-proper-blood-anymore, his wound closes, burnt fingers give way to whole claws. It ends up with something really not much like Nadas at all, a bestial figure somewhere around 76% demon. If you were measuring carefully.

[Tour of Demon Madness]

Ilpholin's eyes widen just slightly as Nadas gives in to his demonic heritage. So it was him after all. He almost had her fooled, but no transformation potion could imitate this condition so thoroughly. Oh poor brother. If only he had let her do what needed to be done, this tragedy could have been avoided. He could have been put to rest a dignified drow instead of this... monstrosity.

The path was clear now. Her weapon arm retracts once more before lashing out, this time as a spiked chain. At first it seems like she's trying to strike his body, but the weapon's arc curves near its apex and attempts to land upon and painfully wrap around one of his wings. Ilpholin knows he's capable of flight with those and her reach is actually limited. If Nadas flies away, she probably couldn't catch him. Best to just ground him now.

Injuries caused by the nymph's weaponized arms will now have to compete with small doses of excreted silver, as if her weapons were coated with a sort of poison. It will have much less effect on Nadas than it would Cuthun demons. Unfortunately for our demon hunter, not all demons are the same and not all react as poorly to silver.

[Recaiden]

"I can see you thinking that you've realized my deception."

The Nadas Demon sees the chain coming to lash his chest and leaps to the side. My, but this body feels good now, almost like he was his old old self. But he doesn't properly account for the wings, one of which is now wrapped in spikes and well-entangled.

"But all I told you was true, withholding only this: in his desperation, Nadas did not find a way to cure his affliction, but to spread it."

He looks scornfully at his bound wing.

"Did you think I was running away? Flying off to be hounded by you again and again? No. Today, this ends, one way or another."

The monstrosity twists inward and lashes at her other shoulder with its claws. The chain stings, but if he wins here, it won't matter how badly wounded he became in the course of it.

[Morty]

[Electra's Apartment - Before the Job]

"It's a decision between Riverside and Inside, right now," Fayyaad says. "How do you find living here?"

[DMside]

Wenomir arrives at the temple. He needs to speak with Mia in her capacity as the priestess of the machine god, not a Vigil member.

[Deathkeeper]

Sam's Apartment

Sam nods. "Well, I have money of course. Cooking is just way more fun." he explains with an innocent smile. Sam realizes that he wouldn't even have trouble getting onto the roof, though he'd probably just use the normal way if he's carrying a big pot of something. He really ought to practice climbing more often.

[Morty]

[MERC Office]

"It has to be magic. But why would it show each of us a different thing?" Iknika asks. "It's not doing anything else."

[Nova_Eclipse]

[Electra's Apartment - Before the Job]

"I like it here. It's not always the most convenient to shopping, but the stuff you can get at the local markets tends to be fresh and tasty, and by and large, most of the people here are decent enough to get along with." Electra smiles gently. "I think it's a pretty nice city, and it seems more stable than Inside. Half the time when I go to Inside, I wind up looking for a street that's either flat out vanished, or suddenly been moved halfway across the city."

[Earl of Purple]

Sam's Apartment

"In your case, probably more valuable, too. Just... Be cautious about what you try to sell to who." But I think Sam's got that already.

I'm a little annoyed with myself; I've since come up with a better response for Jack and eggs. Basically, if they weren't fertilised, they were never going to be birds, rather than assuming they were lizard eggs.

[Morty]

[Electra's Apartment - Before the Job]

"Inside is nice to visit, but not sure about living there," Fayyaad says. "On the other hand, if you're looking for something or someone interesting, there's no better place. One time I ran across a handsome lad named Fetty, who had trouble with a rather possessive girlfriend. I helped him, and it went well from there." Let's not get into this whole "actually a woman named Tina" thing. "Riverside might be calmer for actually living in."

[Deathkeeper]

Sam's Apartment

Sam tilts his head, surprised. "What? Am I gonna get stabbed if somebody doesn't like my stew or somethin'?" Sam asks, confused by the warning.

[Nova_Eclipse]

[Electra's Apartment - Before the Job]

Electra nods, smiling gently at him.

"I think so, anyways, but you might want to have a look at the different districts and see which one suits you the best. And look around and see what might fall into your price range, too."

[Reinholdt]

"I can see you thinking that you've realized my deception."

The Nadas Demon sees the chain coming to lash his chest and leaps to the side. My, but this body feels good now, almost like he was his old old self. But he doesn't properly account for the wings, one of which is now wrapped in spikes and well-entangled.

"But all I told you was true, withholding only this: in his desperation, Nadas did not find a way to cure his affliction, but to spread it."

He looks scornfully at his bound wing.

"Did you think I was running away? Flying off to be hounded by you again and again? No. Today, this ends, one way or another."

The monstrosity twists inward and lashes at her other shoulder with its claws. The chain stings, but if he wins here, it won't matter how badly wounded he became in the course of it.

[Demon Tour]

Lies. Half-truths. Facts worded to mislead. Nothing more than Nadas' demon personality overwhelming him. He never could handle stress.

Ilpholin is more prepared now. Her shield raises up to block the blow, the front of the shield transforming as it falls into place, blades rippling into being in vertical lines along its surface to cut into the demon's claws. People put spikes on their shields sometimes, why not blades? She is only coming to understand how to efficiently use shapeshifting in combat and her timing might be off. Too many years mastering the whip.

A grunt of pain escapes her. A blocked blow, maybe, but the force still travels through her burnt arm and her healing is nowhere as fast as the demon Nadas. Demadas? No. Don't name it. The only sympathy it can be given is death.

Ripping back her spiked chain arm, she winds back behind the protection of her shield before attempting to smash Nadas with what is now an oversized warhammer. The time for precision and elegance has passed.

[Zefir]

[DMSide]

That explanation makes it more clear to Alice how things work. If Mia is mostly part of VIGIL and comes here only with a packed schedule of temple business, that makes her seem a lot more normal. Mia might be a genius who was the most well suited to become a high priestess of anyone, but she's still a person.

"Well, they are nice flowers. Even if she doesn't have much idea about laying down on the grass (besides briefly to sleep with nowhere better); probably a biped thing.
Alice follows to the little manor, ducking her head under the doorframe, when a thought strikes her.
"Are there any priests of Deus Mechanicus who are entirely mechanical? Robots, or something?"

[DMSide]

The manor is not little in sense of heigth. People with over 2 meter in size should walk through doorframes without a problem.^^
"No, not that I ever heared of that." Mia says right away. "We got people with robotic parts, but no robot at all."

[DMside]

Wenomir arrives at the temple. He needs to speak with Mia in her capacity as the priestess of the machine god, not a Vigil member.

[DMside - Wenomir]

An average man in priest clothes welcomes Wenomir.
"Hello Sir. Please follow me."
The man will lead Wenomir to a side Buildingof the kathedral. Where Mia will wait in an seperate office.
"Hello Wenomir. What a suprise. What brings you to SMside?"

[Morty]

[DMside - Wenomir]

Wenomir nods.

"I never thought I'd say something like that, but... I need a god's help. You see, the Faction came to negotiate with us recently. They're Magtok's rogue clones. When we refused to ally with them, they destroyed their vehicle, killing one of their own. He willingly went to his death to ruin our reputation. I asked Kalya to call his ghost. He's willing to admit that we didn't do it, if I secure him a better afterlife. Would your god be willing to take him in?"

[Electra's Apartment - Before the Job]

"Well, I should probably go and actually earn that money," Fayyaad says. "But I do hope we'll see each other again soon."

[Recaiden]

[Demon Tour]

Lies. Half-truths. Facts worded to mislead. Nothing more than Nadas' demon personality overwhelming him. He never could handle stress.

Ilpholin is more prepared now. Her shield raises up to block the blow, the front of the shield transforming as it falls into place, blades rippling into being in vertical lines along its surface to cut into the demon's claws. People put spikes on their shields sometimes, why not blades? She is only coming to understand how to efficiently use shapeshifting in combat and her timing might be off. Too many years mastering the whip.

A grunt of pain escapes her. A blocked blow, maybe, but the force still travels through her burnt arm and her healing is nowhere as fast as the demon Nadas. Demadas? No. Don't name it. The only sympathy it can be given is death.

Ripping back her spiked chain arm, she winds back behind the protection of her shield before attempting to smash Nadas with what is now an oversized warhammer. The time for precision and elegance has passed.

'Nademon', if you please.

Truth can be the most deceptive thing of all. Certainly, the creature before her has failed to tell the whole truth.

Its claws crash off the shield, drawing away from the blades as they form, slightly scratched - little worse than papercuts. I think the usual lack of bladed shields is connected to the difficulty of getting them at the right angle to cut. Most of the time you end up with something like a cheese grater, or an egg-slicer. You can't chop through an opponent with the front of a shield.

The thing roars as the chain is ripped away, but realizes its words had one of their intended effects. He can still fly if he needs to, not without pain, but it should be possible. He beats his wings once, skirring back out of the path of the warhammer. Really, does the time for precision ever pass? His hand sweeps out to try to strike the warhammer's head, while his other arm moves through the motions of a spell, one that comes so naturally as a demon: pouring raw destructive energy into the weapon-limb. As for magic words, it requires just one. "Shatter!" Really it's the intention behind the word that matters, to focus on things breaking apart, to revel in their ruin. Not disarming an enemy, but taking from them: theft, disorder, power.

[DMSide]

The manor is not little in sense of height. People with over 2 meter in size should walk through doorframes without a problem.^^
"No, not that I ever heard of that." Mia says right away. "We got people with robotic parts, but no robot at all."

Tall doors! Alice likes this place better already.
"Interesting. I know one such person - who helped make my machine parts. I figured this of all places would have full robots." Perhaps they would find DMside too reverent, patronizing.

[Earl of Purple]

Sam's Apartment

"No, no more than usual in Inside, anyway. Especially since you're, y'know, kinda big. But tell people what's in it before you trade. Otherwise they might get upset, and not all of them are as polite as I am. Sphinx hate being lied to, for example." Sphinx feed on truth, so lies give them indigestion.

[Deathkeeper]

Sam's Apartment

"Right. I'll make sure I put a sign on the pot. Maybe I'll do shrimp. I don't expect any fish there. Can't make chicken, and I ain't cooking pork. Seems like a safe bet." thinks the Spigre out loud as he stares out the window in thought.

[Earl of Purple]

Sam's Apartment

"Even if there are fish, they won't mind eating other fish. Fish are weird like that." Because fish isn't actually a legitimate animal grouping, much like reptiles. Sharks and eels are both fish, yet the two types of fish split apart before amphibians crawled from the seas; reptiles consist of at least three distinct lineages- tortoises and turtles, snakes and lizards, and crocodiles, which are more closely related to birds than the others. Tortoises split from other proto-reptiles long before even crocodiles appeared.

[UncleWolf]

[The Empress' Estate - Sakura]

"That doesn't matter." Sakura says firmly, her frustration only growing. "Not telling the whole truth is just another kind of lie. Nothing was obvious. We trusted you and you lied. That's all there is to it." If the Empress thought this was a good way to start this relationship, Sakura has no idea what she was thinking.

The Empress' Estate - Sakura

The Empress actually seems to consider Sakura's words for a few quiet moments before inclining her head slightly towards the much smaller woman. "Then I will not leave anything out in the future with you and your husband." She states clearly and concisely, choosing her words with care. "If by the end of the next lunar cycle you two are unhappy with the changes, I will even dismiss him from my service honorably should that be the solution."

The Empress' Estate

"Well uh, people overestimate just how much armor can restrict spells. That said, I'm not one for really heavy stuff. I usually just stuck to an armored coat. As for weapons, well, I used a shotgun. So, not quite point blank but not a sniper either." Tester muses, as he gazes at the armor. He loves old things. There's something calming about something that's still around after so much time. He's careful to not touch, though.

The Empress' Estate - Tester

"We do not have what you would consider to be a modern shotgun. My family shunned the disposable weaponry for Legacy would not accumulate on it like the weapons and armor you see here." The Empress says, gesturing towards the assembled gear. "Firearms were crude affairs where I came from, and there will not be a single one here that you would likely recognize. The closest would be a hard mortar, but I would advise choosing something else if you wish."

The Lotus Gardens - Cessie

Cessie blinks as Jezebel mentions methods of separating soul and spirit, that was not quite what she had intended. "I simply meant discussing your shared experience with her as I think she could use all the support she could get right now. Adir is not taking this whole thing well, and I understand his concerns. It is at this point difficult to tell if he is talking to Sakura or the kami right now. So I figure you could understand how it is like to share a body with a entity like that, to know what it is like to be part spirit." Cessie explains. "It is just a suggestion though, she is my friend after all, not yours." She takes a sip of tea. "But regarding your 'goddess', I'm not sure I'm the right person to talk to. It should not represent my preferred aesthetics, but the ones of the people of this place."

The Lotus Gardens - Pastry Shop

"We are considering the possibility of taking inspiration from the gardens and create a form of guardian spirit of northside that would add the benefits we see that your people are enjoying." Celestel explains. "Therefore, seeing that you are the expert on this subject, we are wondering if we could have your support in this project, for compensation of course. We believe it would bring north- and eastside closer to one another, like the twin protective gods of the city."

The Lotus Gardens - Cessie

"Perhaps I should talk to Adir first. Soothe him over." Jezebel supposes as she takes a spoon and idly stirs the tea she's not drinking. "Talking to Sakura about it would be difficult, but I will try. Part of the issue is that if she's truly merged, she did something I had not. My...prior self could likely be considered a bud of my own self but changed as befitting that Dark God's whims." She tries to explain, clearly unsure of how to describe it herself. "It's like there was a small seed implanted within my very soul and as it grew it took more and more of me. Even now that little seed is still there. Dormant, but present." She explains. "It is simply different than being possessed or merging souls where the individual's essence is completely replaced or changed. Our experiences will differ, but it is something we can talk about at least."

After looking down at her cup she tries another tentative sip before shaking her head and setting it aside once more, her initial take on the terrible tea still being accurate. "The tastes of the gardens are extremely varied, so I thought it would be best to come up with the design for my replacement myself. I believed something graceful would work the best but as you can see I still came up with multiple ideas."

Pastry Shop

Jezebel frowns ever-so-slightly at the thought of Northside creating their own god, but it is a thoughtful frown rather than one born out of displeasure. "I most certainly do not recommend the process I took to make the Gardens, though I could perhaps give some advice and help. The issue of the matter is that I admit to being woefully oblivious to the inner workings of Northside and its desires. I have wandered through a small number of occasions but I cannot say I understand your part of the city. If you were to give me a guided tour and explain what we come across, it would be a great deal of help."

[Gullara]

[The Empress' Estate - Sakura]

Sakura crosses her arms and just looks at the Empress for a moment. "Well, good. That's all I want." She's not happy, but she can at least take something away from this. "I guess I'll leave you alone then." She'll go unless the Empress wants to stop her.

[Nova_Eclipse]

[Electra's Apartment - Before the Job]

Electra reaches out gently, leaning forwards a bit more and puts her hands on the back of his neck, then pulls him in for a long kiss. When she finally releases him, she smiles once more.

"I'm sure we'll see each other again soon. But until then, there's a little something to remember me by."

[Shadowcaller]

MERC Office

Koshal goes up beside Eliseo to lift up the painting and see if there's anything behind it.
"That is real spooky. It could be magic. Or maybe there's a ghost in it and we need to set it free. Or burn it." Koshal says, gazing hard at the painting. He touches it, just to see if it's real paint.

[MERC Office]

"Mine looks like... a weirdly familiar woman." Is this some trick or is it actually haunted or something? "That's pretty creepy." He starts checking around the edge of the frame. Can he tilt the painting away from the wall at all? "Maybe it's just some kind of magic thing." He muses.

The Lotus Gardens - Cessie

"Perhaps I should talk to Adir first. Soothe him over." Jezebel supposes as she takes a spoon and idly stirs the tea she's not drinking. "Talking to Sakura about it would be difficult, but I will try. Part of the issue is that if she's truly merged, she did something I had not. My...prior self could likely be considered a bud of my own self but changed as befitting that Dark God's whims." She tries to explain, clearly unsure of how to describe it herself. "It's like there was a small seed implanted within my very soul and as it grew it took more and more of me. Even now that little seed is still there. Dormant, but present." She explains. "It is simply different than being possessed or merging souls where the individual's essence is completely replaced or changed. Our experiences will differ, but it is something we can talk about at least."

After looking down at her cup she tries another tentative sip before shaking her head and setting it aside once more, her initial take on the terrible tea still being accurate. "The tastes of the gardens are extremely varied, so I thought it would be best to come up with the design for my replacement myself. I believed something graceful would work the best but as you can see I still came up with multiple ideas."

Pastry Shop

Jezebel frowns ever-so-slightly at the thought of Northside creating their own god, but it is a thoughtful frown rather than one born out of displeasure. "I most certainly do not recommend the process I took to make the Gardens, though I could perhaps give some advice and help. The issue of the matter is that I admit to being woefully oblivious to the inner workings of Northside and its desires. I have wandered through a small number of occasions but I cannot say I understand your part of the city. If you were to give me a guided tour and explain what we come across, it would be a great deal of help."

[MERC Office]

"It has to be magic. But why would it show each of us a different thing?" Iknika asks. "It's not doing anything else."

Pastry Shop

Celestel puts her palm against her chest and nods deeply. "Of course, lady Jezebel, it would be my pleasure to give you a guided tour around Northside. Would you prefer doing it right away, or would you like to wait? I am fine either way. Northside is always ready to greet guests."

[MERC Office]

The paint does seem real, and the painting can be tilted as Eliseo touches it. But as Koshal is holding the painting, he can feel a clawed hand reach down into his pockets and grabbing the wallet and the cellphone, lifting them out of it.

There doesn't appear to be anything behind the painting but a black scorch mark. Like after a fire.
But those that aren't watching the painting might note Koshal's wallet and cellphone suddenly being lift out of his pockets before disappearing into thin air.

The Lotus Gardens - Cessie

Cessie contemplates what Jezebel just said as she stirs her own tea. "The way it has been explained to me, it is quite unlike the dark god you were a part. While the spirit is very much a representation of concepts, it is also in a way a copy of Sakura. It has been with her so long it has adapted her very personality, with very little differentiating the two. Therefore, becoming one being is not that much of a change for her. Or so I've been led to believe at the very least. I can't actually really understand her experience after all, it would be impossible for me to even imagine what she have gone through, and I think the same thing goes for Adir. Neither of us really understands what just happened on a more personal level." She explains.

"As for the goddess design, I could take a look at them. What did you have in mind?"

[Deathkeeper]

[The Empress' Estate]

"Disposable? I guess that's one way to put it. Well, if we're talking Renaissance levels here...I guess a crossbow is similar but I don't wanna spend half my time cranking it. I'm no expert on the straightforward kind of tech.
Something I can throw, maybe? Or hell, you did a number on my muscles. I could probably swing an axe now if that's all the kind of stuff with your Legacy on it." Tester muses, gazing at the armory. Really, he's never put a ton of thought into these sorts of things. He's not sure how to handle it.

[Morty]

[Electra's Apartment - Before the Job]

"I doubt I'm at any risk of forgetting that," Fayyaad says, winking, before heading back to change into his clothes, and take his leave.

[Murkus]

[Fourth Tower Compound]

Zhareen may lie limp, but Vax is made of sturdier stuff. That was... rough, admittedly. She doesn't look entirely fighting fit when she stands defensively over her wife. "You should have just left, Sticks." She says it like a threat.

[Fourth Tower Compound]

Zhareen have passed out, if this was an anime she would have this expression.

"Or died." Nazaan suggests rhetorically as he approaches the compound, now standing just outside the door. His tone is lighthearted considering the situation, but there is definitely seriousness behind it considering all the flaming wisps surrounding him. "But as I don't want see more fourth tower members hurt, so I will give you a chance to leave, puppet-wizard. If you don't, I will unleash every house spirit we bounded to this complex. Beings that have been made to never attack a member of the fourth tower, but wouldn't mind tearing apart an outsider such as yourself." He gestures around him, at the compound itself. Is he bluffing?

[Fourth Tower Compound]

Sticks is flourishing with power at the moment. The two practitioners would be hard pressed to frighten him, whatever powers they still hide. Even if he should be afraid, he considers his situation...

He looks at Nazaan and gives a fierce little whistle. A moment later, Bolts the construct - looking much the worse for wear but all the more like a mechanical nightmare - emerges from the spirit storm. He falls on Nazaan in a flourish of flashing beak and rending claws.

It isn't as though he can leave. Now? After all this work? All he has to do is hold them off until Malechenar arrives in force. He doesn't have to win, he just has to waste time. Although ripping Nazaan's throat out wouldn't exactly hurt his feelings.

No more talk, at any rate. No more games. His staff and rod move together in the air in a mingling dance, snapping here and there, darting out like fingers tapping buttons. He begins to assemble a glamour... and a few defensive matrices for Vax's next attack. By the Gods, if that cow tries to get into his brain again she'll be in for quite a shock!

[Nova_Eclipse]

[Electra's Apartment - Before the Job]

Electra smiles after him, then putters around in the kitchen for a few moments, before heading for the bathroom. Once he's changed, Fayyaad can probably hear the sound of running water coming from the shower. She has a full day of spying to get to, after all.

[Gullara]

[Fourth Tower Compound]

That's enough. Vax needs to end this. THe dim retrieves a large seed and sticks it between her sharp teeth. Then she surges forward. As she moves she grows. Her body bursts from its human shape, becomes less defined and more bestial. Before she reaches Sticks she's a mass of thorny leaves and vines, already three times her original size and still growing.

[Deathkeeper]

MERC Office

"Hey!" Koshal cries, instinctively performing a move which would normally trap the pickpocket's arm with his right while he tries to hold onto the painting with just his left hand.
However, it's very unlikely this will accomplish much when you know. Ghost.
"Huh?"

[Reinholdt]

[Demon Tour]

'Nademon', if you please.

Truth can be the most deceptive thing of all. Certainly, the creature before her has failed to tell the whole truth.

Its claws crash off the shield, drawing away from the blades as they form, slightly scratched - little worse than papercuts. I think the usual lack of bladed shields is connected to the difficulty of getting them at the right angle to cut. Most of the time you end up with something like a cheese grater, or an egg-slicer. You can't chop through an opponent with the front of a shield.

The thing roars as the chain is ripped away, but realizes its words had one of their intended effects. He can still fly if he needs to, not without pain, but it should be possible. He beats his wings once, skirring back out of the path of the warhammer. Really, does the time for precision ever pass? His hand sweeps out to try to strike the warhammer's head, while his other arm moves through the motions of a spell, one that comes so naturally as a demon: pouring raw destructive energy into the weapon-limb. As for magic words, it requires just one. "Shatter!" Really it's the intention behind the word that matters, to focus on things breaking apart, to revel in their ruin. Not disarming an enemy, but taking from them: theft, disorder, power.

[Demon Tour]

A ripple runs through the warhammer and for an instant Ilpholin's vision is flooded white. Steam can be seen rising out of Ilpholin's whole body. There is no scream and no pause in her movements. She can't afford to pause. Darcy could use the pain as fuel for her fight. Darcy was always stronger than her. Ilpholin would have to ignore it. Compartmentalize the agony and return to it later. A demon stood in front of her. A demon stole her brother. A demon stole Darcy. It wasn't her fault Darcy was dead. It was the demon's. Kill the demon.

The problem was that the demon was a spellcaster. Hiding behind a shield lets the spellcaster cast spells. That was no longer an option. She would have to keep it so off balance it couldn't cast spells.

Ilpholin skips forward, both arms changing into double bladed axes. Her hope is that the demon will be paying too much attention to her weapon arms to notice the sweeping trip she attempts with her feet. A winged person might not be the best thing to trip, but that only really matters when they're hovering or in flight. The immediate follow-up vertical swing from both her axes, the left traveling slower than the right, has a greater chance of hurting more. The demon's arms are priority targets and the primary aim. Hands are bonus points.

Her weapons no longer excrete any amount of silver poison. That is a luxury Ilpholin can't afford right now. Staying together is more important.