Inside 67: Shadow over Innside

[Deathkeeper]

Current Events: The Spook season is upon us! Beware the dangers of the dark and creepy!

The title is a misnomer, of course. No doubt the moniker of this place was settled on after a brief conversation that started with, 'Wouldn't it be funny if...?'. But now the name has stuck.

But what is this place, you ask?

Inside is everything within the City Walls. As opposed to Outside, which is everything without. This strange, whimsical city is the centre of a planar Nexus, a crossing point between all possible (and some impossible) worlds. One can find just about anything in this wondrous place, dreams that defy imagination and terrors that freeze the soul. People and whole places are regularly drawn into the Nexus, added to the chaotic melting pot of all realities.

The city is surrounded by defensive walls, with an artificially and accidentally created moat outside the walls, a moat that has been diverted into a river-channel for one many bodies of water flowing through Inside. A gap in the walls and a bridge allow for entrance into the city proper, the main gate opening up to welcome newcomers Inside.

Welcome, traveller, to the City of Inside. The only boundaries you find within are the bounds of your own imagination.


Rules

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Rules

1:Please Spoiler any Fanservice in this thread! It is accepted that there will of course be some, and that romance and curtains happen. However, please be courteous to others and spoiler any scene that goes on for a little while, and if it reaches the point, curtain. This is so you can stay within forum rules, as well as letting those uninterested in the scene, pass by. Thank you.

2:Godmodding is not permissible! As stated in the rules in the FFRP Central Thread,, godmodding is generally not allowed without permission. If you're shaky on what might be, and what might not be godmodding, please follow the above link.

3:The DOOM-Shield. Inside is currently equipped with a techno-magic shield that mitigates "global" effects to a survivable level. This is to prevent anyone from simply killing all the NPCs, or affecting the entire city. For example, a plot that envelops the entire city in subarctic temperatures, will find that the cold isn't as bad as it should be, and survivable.

4:Intersection. Please remember when doing any plots or large events, that even though it has it's own thread, Intersection - the Inside Police Force and Army - is located in Inside, and may respond to events, or may be asked to respond to them.

4:All Inside-Wide/Nexus-Wide plots need to be brought up in OOC first! We all want to have the entire city be cast into a frozen wasteland from time to time, but such things need to be brought up in OOC first, to allow players plenty of warning, and so people don't feel like anything is being forced upon them that they don't want to RP.

5:Inside is not Space! Anything involving massive spaceships, meteors, satellites, Lasers From Space, and the like, do not belong in this thread. Few PCs have the ability to fight off an orbital bombardment, so it is considered unfair to be able to call down such things inside Inside. It can be assumed that the Doom Shield prevents such things from occurring. The place for these sorts of things should be in Outside, or another thread all together.

Zones and Streets

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Zones:
In the Zone(s): The City of Inside is separated into three zones that represent the general threat level color coded for your convenience.

The Blue Zones are upper-class, well to do portions of Inside. You're pretty darn safe here.

The Grey Zones consists of the more traditionally urban parts of inside. Certainly no gated community, but it isn't immediately life threatening either.

The Red Zones represents the parts of the City that are degenerate, destitute, or downright dangerous. Sometimes all of the above. If you're poking around a Red Zone be ready to get jumped by Orks or ghouls or killer robots or something.

Streets:

Can you tell me how to get, how to get to Hodgepodge Street? The City of Inside also has a number of Streets. The Streets aren't a street in the literal sense, but rather portions of the City with a particular theme. While one can find anything anywhere in the City there are none the less areas were certain settings predominate. The Riftline monorail public transit system allows for quick and easy access between the many Streets of Inside, as well as take your PCs to other popular locations within the Nexus. Best of all it's fast and free!

If you have an idea for a Street feel free to suggest it in the OOC thread.

Hodgepodge Street: The generically modern setting! Hodgepodge Street is perhaps the most plastic of the Streets, displaying a decent mix of all settings, though modern predominates. Generally speaking most locations without a Street name will be found here. The most commonly seen locations here are the Streets and the Slums. Occasionally The Rooftops if someone is feeling daring.

Steele Street: Need a Victorian location with all sorts of choking industrial pollution? Need an always-night urban landscape with superficial resemblance to 1800s London? Well Steel Street is by far the best place Inside to come down with Black Lung Disease! With spooky stinky fog, gross waterways, and the occasional murderer who may or may not be spring-heeled. Come for the fish and chips! Stay for the gritty atmosphere!

Arkham Street: Spanning 1920s-1930s style fantastic horror, Arkham Street is home of such spooky locations as Philip Memorial Library, the haunted Carter House, and Dunwich Park. Ah Arkham Street, where the clustering gambled roofs sway and sag above the attics where witches hid from the king's men in the dark olden days of Town. The Town is gone, but the witches are still here! And the monsters, and the cultists, and the regular folks just trying not to lose their minds.

Metropolis Square: It's Atom Age or Deco Punk or whatever you want to call it! 1930-50s era retro science fiction with ray guns and mad scientists and nuclear powered robots who just want to learn the meaning of love. This part of Inside is known for its slick hats, era cars, smooth jazz, a robotic workforce, and square-jawed heroes.

The Skyway: High up above the tops of the tallest skyscrapes one can find The Skyway! A high future urban cityscape of floating buildings of glass and chrome and steel and plastic. And a space port too, if you feel like leaving the planet for whatever reason. Think Jetsons with more foot paths. Riftline, of course, grants access to The Skyway to for those not blessed with flying cars.

[Burnt Chrome Street:] Need some cyberpunk action? You got some cyberpunk action! The gritty future of cyber-criminals clashing against government and corporate forces! With cyborgs and hackers and stuff! Grungy urban sprawl, a decaying job market, and an oppressed underclass mark this area of Inside. Burnt Chromes Street is the distopian counter-point to The Skyway's more optimistic vision of what the future holds.

Market Street: Market Street is the ye olde portion of Inside, complete with bards, fools, open market places, and the occasional damsel in distress. While products of any age can be found in the sprawling street booths everything is done ye olde style-e. If you need a chase scene to crash through a fruit-cart this is the place to do it.

Deadwood Street: The wild, wild west. Located on the edge of Inside this is the western part of the city. And that means any kind of western. From spegetti to steampunk to magical. Whether you need to hang around a saloon, have a duel a high noon, or go riding off into the sunset Deadwood Street is your best bet.

PokéStreet: By popular demand! This one should be obvious enough. PokéCenters and PokéMarts and PokéGyms and PokéParks and PokéNarwhals and everything else Poké-related! Great place to visit if you feel like watching some adorable animals beat the tar out of each other. Just watch out for the tall grass. You never know what might be lurking in there.

Carousel Court: So much pony. Carousel Court contains the majority of the City's pony population as well as a healthy helping of non-pony quadrupedal sapient races. Ranging from quaint thatched roof cottages to the towering mane offices of Roseluck Agrifirm to the opulent stables of the well-to-do Carousel Court has it all. The sweet tooth of ponies is absolutely legendary around Inside and if you're looking for a sugary treat, Carousel Court is the place to visit.

Locations

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The Red Zones

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Just because here are some nice quick descriptions of the various Red Zones that see some degree of use. Or at least the ones that I'll run NPCs in if I get prodded at or notice someone's PC poking around there. I don't control everything in these locations and other people are free to run things here, just keep the Lethality level in mind. Anyone exploring one of the Red Zones will find caches of magical or technological trinkets to make the danger worth their while. The higher the lethality rating the better the loot!

The Slums: (Lethality Level Low) Accessed from Hodgepodge Street. The Slums are a generally urban area of decay and disrepair. It's a pretty good place to run into muggers, thugs, vampires, random monsters, and other generically nasty things. People live in squalor here, but no one can really figure out WHY since the rest of the City is available for habitation and has fewer flesh eating mildew patches.

The Sewers: (Lethality Level Low) Accessed from anywhere Inside. The adventure Sewers are not to be confused with the gross functional sewers. Where the former are huge underground tunnels filled with relatively clean flowing water, ghouls, oozes, rats, and treasure, the latter are just filled with poo. Some portions of the Sewers are infested with far worse creatures, but thankfully those nasty things have been dormant for a long time. Or so they say...

The Mispelled Cemetary: (Lethality Level Variable) Accessed form Market Street. The Mispelled Cemetary is fully of the restless spirits of the unded who have been ripped from there eternal rest due to the endless propagation of spelling errors on the Internet. The unded in the cemetary proper are pretty week, but catacombs below the cemetary can be accessed through the various crypts on the surface. The deeper into the catacombs ones travels the nastier the unded get. Beware the Eternal Bone Horrers.

Midnight Park: (Lethality Level Moderate) This place enshrines a patch of forest so thick that light never reaches the ground. The smallest trees are wider than most people are tall, and the largest are truly awe-inspiring. The forest floor is a maze of twisting roots, fallen branches, and decaying leaves. There is never a breath of wind among the massive trunks, and the atmosphere is oppressive with fear and gloom.

Or...

At least it used to be oppressive with fear and gloom. Fear and gloom are still around, but they aren't nearly as bad.

Foot paths have been cleared through the forest and lanterns hung up that glow with cool silvery white light to keep the feral shadows at a distance from anyone who decides to walk in the cool of the shadows. Undead creatures that stray too close to the magical lanterns will find themselves illuminated by incandescent sunlight until they retreat back to a safe distance. Signs have been set up admonishing visitors to stay on the paths and warning of the unspeakable doom that will probably befall them if they don't.

Shadows prowl the darkness, their red eyes glinting in the gloom and the air filled with their hungry whispers, though they're loath to approach the paths. There's the occasional bodak or feral vampire spawn lurking around in the park as well, but they tend to keep well away from the paths since those areas are mostly commonly patrolled by the park's custodians.

The custodians, of course, being Team Nightmære. It isn't at all uncommon to find patrols of nightmære shadelings poking about, chatting with visitors, maintaining the trails, or installing new equipment around the park to make visits by the living more pleasant.

The Dungeons of Doom: (Lethality Level Moderate) Accessed from the Sewers. The Dungeons of Doom consists of a seemingly endless descent of themed dungeon floors filled with generally silly monsters and puzzles. But don't let the silliness fool you, the place is plenty deadly if you get too careless. Remember to pay proper respects to giant marble busts of science fiction and fantasy authors that might block your path.

The Radiation Pit: (Lethality Level Moderate) Accessed from Metropolis Square. The Radiation Pit is exactly what it sounds like. A blasted crater full of radiation and the sorts of things you would expect to arise in 50's era films about radiation. So mostly giant irradiated arthropods. The danger here, aside from the radiation mutants, is mostly from environmental hazards. Make sure to pack plenty of Rad-Away.

Bombed Out Zone: (Lethality Level Moderate) Accessed from Hodgepodge Street. A ruined urban landscape of burned out cars, shattered skyscrapers, and crumbling overpasses. It is the site of an ongoing three way battle between zombies, killer robots, and aliens. Getting caught between the factions is pretty dangerous, but scavenging the remains after a battle can yield some great loot.

Black Goat Woods: (Lethality Level High) Accessed from Arkham Street. Black Goat Woods is a park full of awful eldritch abominations. If you go in un-warded you will almost certainly die a horrible death if you're fortunate. With proper warding by the Elder Sign this Red Zone is just dangerous and maddening rather than a complete death trap. If you need to collect some tomes of forbidden lore or repulsive idols try snooping around here. Just remember that Cthulhu eats 2d6 investigators per round.

Everfree Park: (Lethality Level High) Accessed from Carousel Court. This is a wilderness within the heart of the City that hates you and wants you to die. The laws of physics and magic shift here chaotically and without warning. Powerful monsters roam the trees hunting for anyone foolish enough to stumble in. Everything that exists in this park, even the very air you're breathing, is a malevolent force that seeks your destruction. Enter at your own risk.

Azik's Enchantments(Player: Halae, Grey Zone)

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Those in the area will hear a rumbling as the Nexus begins pulling in something larger than just a single person. Reality bends, and the shape of portal opens above a certain street corner. For a sickening moment, nothing happens, but then things start coming out of the portal - all of them are bricks, building up finally to a door and a roof, with tiny windows built in. There's even a large chimney sticking out of the center of this strange, conical building that begins puffing rainbow smoke almost immediately.

A creature steps out the front door, though many wouldn't consider it a creature - He is a warforged, a living golem. Covered in what appears to be adamantine plates, he looks up and down the street, his longcoat catching in the breeze. as it flutters, one can see a multitude of wands, schema, and scrolls all attached to several belts around his waist and upper legs. On his eyes he wears a pair of blue tinted shades, despite his lack of ears, and the metal orbs that serve as his eyes glow green behind these spectacles. He looks up and down the street. He doesn't seem to be particularly disturbed by the change in location, but he does take the time to call out, in a metallic voice:

"Azik's Enchantments is open for business! Come find a potion, a wand, a scroll to fit any need! We have spellbooks for beginners and experts! Weapons of all shapes and sizes, and armor unlike anything you've ever seen! Come find what you're looking for here!"

And then he heads back inside. So much work, so little time. Inside is as strange as outside, with magic trinkets lining the walls on shelves, but all behind the counter, to keep any stupid kid with the idea to steal something from doing so. You can find just about anything magical here, and that which you can't find, Azik the Warforged can make within a more than reasonable timeframe.

Emergency Bunkers

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Eight bunker-like structures in a ring-like arrangement at about the midpoint between the walls (or the docks) and the center of the city have been completed.

The interior of each is rather dull, rather befitting a bunker, but there are underground areas beneath the visible bunkers. These are similarly dull and military-styled, but they also act as hospitals.

These are mostly designed with emergencies such as shelling in mind, and are usually closed.

Emergency Clinics

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Like the bunkers the clinics are spread through-out the City and are equipped with technology akin to a modern emergency room. Since there's no magical healing available the speed of recovery is going to be noticeably lower than what is available at one of Inside's many temples. However their availability makes them absolutely vital in the application of life-saving care.

Erin's Emporium (Player: The Bushranger, Grey Zone)

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Construction Gnomes have been hard at work renovating a small store along one of the various merchantile roads. Well, it was small. Now it's bigger on the inside.

And filled with every sort of weaponry imaginable, from across the multiverse. From blaster carbines to P-90s, surface-to-air missiles to ballistas, zats to nunchucks, they're all here.

Is that a siege crossbow sitting in the corner?

Evolution Industries Headquarters + Factories (Player: Darkcomet, Blue Zone)

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The headquarters of the company known as Evolution Electronics and Power is a fairly standard-looking modern-day tower in appearance, not quite reaching the level of skyscraper.

The company owns a large factory nearby, used in production of its MACE units, and potentially other products, should it be desired.

The company also possesses a number of other factories around the city, used for production of weaponry and other military materiel.

Retail outlets for Evolution's products are scattered around the city.

Hastings and Sons Mortuary (player: Ashen Lilies, Grey Zone)

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Near one of the older parts of the city sits a large and somewhat dour building of brick and mortar, built in the traditional sense, with a metal plaque by the door that reads (predictably enough):

Hastings and Sons
MORTUARY
For the preparation of the dearly departed.

And indeed, should one go in one should find all the trappings of a conventional mortuary, including several large visitation rooms, run by this guy:

Though of course, usually without the zombie there.
In recent times however, the true business of the resident Mortician has branched into a more heretical bent, offering certain services to the living impaired (more commonly known as the foul Undead). These start at simple healings and flesh grafts (the flesh occasionally obtained 'legitimately', when a body comes in for cremation and the Mortician gives them an urn full of wood-ash, but usually corpses are obtained through donations from customers or good old fashioned grave-robbing). But services can also range into body part replacement and augmentation for the undead who wishes his creator had seen fight to give him a giant lobster claw or retractable venomous spines, or even full body/flesh reconstruction for the self-conscious lich (or lich in disguise, though making your new flesh look like someone else usually costs extra) or the zombie in his golden years. These customers usually come in through the back door, where there is a plaque listing the full list of services. Though of course some are brazen enough to come through the front door anyway.

((PM if you wish to interact with the Mortician, as Ashen Lilies may not always check the thread.))

MagMart (Player: Lord Magtok, Blue Zone)

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An absurd mash-up of K-Mart, Wall-Mart, Target, and every other vile retail chain, MagMart is staffed by an unswervingly loyal Magbots, lobotomized talking cats that are too brain-dead to know any better, several voodoo spirits, and a pickle jar that everyone insists is a sentient being that only communes with those who truly believe in it.

Here you can find everything from curtains to carpets, macaroni to monkeys on motorcycles, groceries to zombies. 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.

Magnificus Theater (Player: ThePhantom, Red Zone)

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This large theater is an attempt to bring culture to the city of the Inside. Plays are regularly show here, and if desired other events can be held here.

The walls of the theater are colored with three shades of blue in a wave pattern. Inside the theater are a pair of grand staircases, with the railing colored gold, while the stone of the stairs is white. The stage itself is one of the largest in the Nexus, carefully designed for the greatest enjoyment.

Rules: Please, no violence. If you must have some violent action in a theater, pm me first.

MERC Office (Player: Morty, Grey Zone)

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The building that serves as MERC's de facto embassy in Inside is now open for business (though there is a separate MERC thread that serves as a meta location to post in). It's a large, newly constructed office building with a very no-nonsense look to it. Its purpose is to do business, not more and not less.

Once inside, the prospective licensed mercenaries will be confronted with a large hall lined with tables, behind which NPCs work at filing and cataloguing the people who arrive to receive their certificates. At least one actual MERC member is also usually on a shift in the building.

Sable Spire (Player: Darkcomet, Blue Zone)

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A great, black-colored tower now stands at the highest point of the Skyway. Appearing mostly similar to a modern-day skyscraper, albeit more futuristic, reinforced, and armored. Upon close examination, some parts of the tower appear to conceal compartments of some sort, likely something along the lines of concealed defensive turrets. the top portion of the tower is rather different in appearance.

It appears as a truly massive hatch, similar to what one might see over a missile silo under normal circumstances.

This hatch opens into the landing area of the aerial aircraft carrier Sanctuary, the main asset of the Altaran Irregulars. Said landing area is set to act as an elevator, capable of moving up to the top of the tower or moving back down to conceal whatever is landed (usually the aforementioned carrier) under the heavily armored hatch.

The Spire, constructed by Remnant in an alliance with the Altaran Irregulars, is now a major base for the the latter, who currently act alongside Remnant in protecting the city. Their troops largely use the same equipment as Remnant's, but use the old Imperial black-and-navy color scheme to distinguish themselves.

The The Temperance Teahouse (Grey Zone) Owned by Artemis

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In an old section of the city stands a wooden building of ancient construction. From inside comes the sound of good conversation and, occasionally, music being played. The scents of exotic teas, spices, and good foods drift out onto the street. along with the scents and sounds come an aura of peace and comfort. It's a nice place here, you could definitely stick around for a while, to escape the general madness of the city.

Two wings extend out from the main building. To the north (the right side as you face the tea house) is an extension of the main structure, still made of wood, the architecture is slightly different and more brightly colored, and also noticeably newer. The west side of the building is surrounded by a stone wall, enclosing a garden. The garden ends at a low stone building running the length of the west wall.

[Restaurant]

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Inside the restaurant is filled with tables and chairs, spread out across the dark hardwood floors. Thick wooden pillars support the second floor and the roof, their tops carved with geometric designs. At the north side of the restaurant is a long counter, surrounding an open kitchen. Steam and smoke drift up from the fires and the woks used for cooking. A shelf along the back wall is filled with dozens of tins, each containing a particular tea or herbal blend. Interspersed among them are tea kettles, each one used to brew a particular type of tea.

The center of the restaurant is open to the second floor. Stairs lead up to more seating on the second level, which looks down on the restaurant below over carved wooden balconies. The ceiling above the open space is painted with a mural of a golden dragon floating through the clouds and circling the sun.

Seats on the west side of the building go fast, as they offer the best view of the gardens. The south and east sides offer views of the bustling streets below. The north side of the second floor has no windows and sits above the kitchen, so it is often darker and smokier than the rest of the restaurant.

Menu

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Drinks

Herbal Tea
Green Tea
Black Tea
White Tea
Yellow Tea
Red Tea
Blue Tea - Mentally stimulating.
Purple Tea - Very relaxing and slightly hallucinogenic.
Iced Tea - Served sweet or unsweet, with or without lemon.
Sake - Available chilled, heated, or at room temperature.
Lychee Wine - A rich sweet drink with a deep golden color. Pairs well with seafood. Served cold.

Food

Dim Sum
Sushi
Stir Fry - Served over rice or noodles
Noodles
Soup
Rice Cakes

Sweets

Ice Cream - Vanilla, Green Tea, Red Bean, and Mango flavoured.
Dragon's Beard Candy - A spun sugar similar to cotton candy.
Moon Cake - A dense sweet cake around a salted egg yolk "moon".
Sun Cake - A crunchy pastry filled with a sugary cream.
Tempura Fried Bananas - Served over ice cream.

[North Wing]

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The north wing of the restaurant is of newer construction. It is more brightly painted and more heavily decorated than the main restaurant. Two doorways on each floor lead to a U shaped hallway that runs through the north wing. Sliding paper screens from the inner walls, so that they can be slid aside and make the spaces much larger. The lower floor holds private rooms that can be reserved for larger parties or special meetings. These rooms typically have a long low table surrounded by cushions. The second floor rooms have more flexible floor plans. Most have tables and chairs, often used to host card or board games. A few can be rented out for sleeping quarters, but patrons are reminded that the walls are, literally, paper thin. Disruptive behaviour will have you evicted without a refund.

[Garden]

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The west wing of the tea house is a large garden surrounded by stone wall. A circular gate leads directly from the garden to the streets, as well as doors leading into the restaurant. The garden itself is carefully kept, trees and bushes trained and cut into pleasing shapes. Stone lanterns and statues decorate the garden. Two pools filled with koi fish sit diagonally from one another, connected together by a stream filled with river rocks. The sound of trickling water fills the garden. A winding path leads through the garden and over a low stone bridge. On the far side of the bridge, the path passes through another circular gate guarded by two stone dragons on plinths. the pair stare down at any visitors, questioning their intentions in passing through their gate.

Beyond the Dragon Gate the path becomes perfectly straight. On either side are large black stones surrounded by carefully raked white sand. The path passes under a red Torii gate before encountering the low stone building at the far side of the garden. The building runs the full length of the west wall and is open to the garden. Large prayer wheels line the opening and are turned by the breeze or visiting people. The walls within the building are heavily decorated and covered in hanging scrolls. At the centre of the building is a shrine, covered in candles. Behind it is a mural depicting scenes of a warrior, a golden dragon, and the sun. Sitting on the shrine a wooden statue of a warrior, sitting in meditation, his sword set aside. The wood is lacquered and carefully inlaid with delicate patterns in gold. From the statue emanates a strong aura of peace, which spreads throughout the entire property.

NPCs

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Hideki - A large man with a red face and a long nose, he is most often found in the kitchen, cooking up tasty things.
Hanako - An older woman, her black hair streaked with grey. She is Hideki's wife and most often found behind the counter serving tea.
Sakura - A lovely young woman and the daughter of Hideki and Hanako. She acts as a waitress and sometimes plays music.

OOC: Please Read. Important information.

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The Teahouse and garden are protected by an aura of non-violence. Violent acts cannot be committed here. You cannot attack another patron or do anything that would cause them bodily harm. Anyone who attempts it will find it extremely hard to convince themselves to do it. If a particularly willful person overcomes this compulsion, something in the environment will intervene, as if by seemingly random chance, to protect their victim as if by divine intervention. Because that's exactly what it is.

Needle and Thread (Blue Zone, Player: Artemis97)

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On one side of a wide cobblestoned street is a small shop. The sign hanging over the door depicts a simple spool of thread, pierced by a needle. No words were included, as a courtesy to those who could not read, nor were they needed. It was clear from the merchandise displayed in the two large windows on either side of the door that this was a clothing boutique. The right side displayed the latest in women's fashions, dresses and skirts in unique designs, all detailed by hand with beading and embroidery. The left window showed men's clothing, from a beautifully tailored three piece suit, cut from expensive fabrics, to the very best in adventuring style, rugged and sturdy, clearly built to last.

Inside, racks and mannequins display more clothing, split down the middle between men's and women's fashions. The back wall held rolls of fabric, some plain, others with obviously magical properties. A large, three-sided mirror sits in the back corner, next to a small changing stall. On the other side is a small counter holding a cash register, behind that the door that led to a small workroom.

The Needle and Thread is a clothing shop specializing in custom tailoring and speciality designs. It is owned and operated by Lillith Rock, and the kindly fiendish woman can usually be found behind the counter, or working on orders in the back workroom.

Pontius' Custom Constructs (Player: Earl of Purple, Grey Zone)

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The caravan of 6 wagons (I never said 3! Well, I did, but still.) arrives at a warehouse, previously for sale. The gnomes lead the golems and other constructs inside, and get to work. The warehouse has an open yard at the main entrance, and several golems, like crude figures of worked stone or wood, stand in the yard. A gnome wearing an apron over smart-yet-practical artisan's clothes and puts a sign up.


Pontius's Custom Constructs
Golems of Any Material* at Unbelievably Low Prices!!!**
You Won't Find a Golem, Gargoyle, Guardian or Homonculus Cheaper!!***
Come Now and Buy 1 Get 1 Full Price!!!****



*Flesh has an additional charge. **Define 'low'. ***Except at our competitors. ****Terms and conditions apply.

Sanctuary Fortress of Zoemaytare (Player: Rebonack, Blue Zone)

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Like so many other prominent buildings in Town, or not so prominent buildings for that matter, this place seemed to pop up out of nowhere over night.

Buildings are like mushrooms in Town. Probably spread via spores, too.

Regardless, here it is. A rather sizeable campus marble hewn from the mountains some distance away. Carved and hauled here near the edge of the slums where they were no doubt assembled. Though... no one can quite place a finger on when this happened.

Though the buildings aren't of only cold hard stone, no. There are timbers as well. Not what one might expect, however. They seem almost organic. As though they had grown into place rather than being hewn.

Oddness aside, the temple is arranged in a rather interesting fashion. Several concentric wall and courtyards ending in a central temple.

The outer wall is lower than the rest, each tier of the temple built onto higher ground like a wedding cake. Each wall is topped with a roof supported on the inside by pillars, creating a sheltered walkway. The exact use of these porches depends on the section of the temple one happens to be in.

Anyone is allowed entry through the first wall and into the first court, the Court of Meeting. Beyond the second wall only worshippers of Zoemaytare are allowed admittance to the second court, the Court of the Blessed. Beyond the third wall only the priests are allowed, where they carry out holy rituals within the temple itself.

The Court of Meeting is dedicated to service of those the worshippers of Zoemaytare dwell among. Food is prepared for the hungry here and given out without expectation of recompense. Those without a place to lay their head are allowed to sleep within the porch. The grounds beyond the porch are devoted to a wondrous garden boasting vibrancy and spectacular color. This are is always comfortably warm and brimming with life. Wounds heal faster as the body is refreshed. Undead creatures will find that remaining here is decidedly uncomfortable.

The sky above the temple seems to be perpetually clear, filled with pleasant sunlight in the day and cloaked with gossamer stars at night. Benches are set up here and there, under trees with hanging branches and above fragrant shrubbery. A lively stream flows endlessly in a circuit about the Court, spilling into several larger pools and meandering up a small outcrop of stone before cascading back down the other side.

This section of the temple is tended by members of the faith. Not priests, though devote. They can be found tending the garden and serving warm food. When in service to the temple these devotees wear a white linen ephod bearing the symbol of a willow tree, ornately rendered in blue thread. They'll be more than happen to answer any questions. Priests tend to have stricter ceremonial garb, including a blue tunic and white robe in addition to the ephod.

Welcome, traveller. May you be more blessed when you leave than when you came.

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New information that isn't readily noticeable at first glance at the temple will be added here.

The temple grounds are protected by a dampening field that blocks unauthorized teleporation and dimensional shifting. The place is something of a fortress after all. Being able to pop in and out at will would defeat the purpose.

Zoemaytare isn't a god of (fill in the black) but rather the patron and protector of her people. As such, her domain, if she even has one, is over all that her people do. The people in question are collectively known as the Zoeos, and this particular temple is their first major venture into Town. At present their stated goal is to set up trade relations and aid the city. This is ministered through the temple on account of the Zoeos government being a theocracy.

It just so happens that there's a dungeon under the temple, though the entrance to it is well hidden.

NPCs thus far:

Potentate of the temple: the head priest and administrator. He has yet to be seen 'on screen' though he has been referred to.

Regent Zachius: And elderly human with a coppery complexion and deep-set wrinkles, the sort of face one expects of a person who has spent a great deal of time in the sun smiling. He's a kind old fellow who is in charge of the Court of Meeting.

Regent Stephen: A younger human who smells rather distinctly of wolf. He's in charge of the dungeons of the temple and seems to be a rather caring and compassionate fellow. It's his job to bring the cases of prisoners before the Potentate.

Regent Thadeus: One of the priests who aids in minor upkeep in the temple proper. He usually isn't seen outside the temple and since his position doesn't put him in much contact with the common folk he tends to be somewhat aloof and judgmental. Also happens to be an elf. Those snooty elves!

Bognus Thundershield: a lay dwarf that operates the temple's teleporter, primarily from Trog's. Though people can be 'ported in from elsewhere as well. While it isn't commonly known, this device can send people over rather long distances, though it's somewhat inaccurate when doing so. Bognus is a bit gruff, though generally good natured. He speaks with a thick Scottish Dwarven accent.

The Statue of Vyrn (Blue Zone)

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On a hill near Evergreen Gardens at an previously empty lot surrounded by spot lights now stands an over 300 feet tall (100 meters tall to be exact) mitharal statue of Emperor Vyrn. Whoever made it seems to have tried to come as close to his likeness as possible on a white mithral surface.
The emperor is dressed in his most most archetypical attire, one fist raised to the skies and another clutching a sword held against the ground. His face perfectly stoic as he overlooks Inside's harbor.
The statue is actually hollow and small groups of people are allowed to take the elevator up to be able to see the city from atop the statues head. Otherwise security is tight around the statue with a tall fence, guards and security cameras there to prevent people from defacing it.
At night the statue is still clearly visible thanks to the many spotlights illuminating it, still making it visible for anyone approaching the city, by day or night.

The Swordfish (Player: Gulaghar, Grey Zone)

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A new shop has opened up in Market Street. The building is a simple affair. A brick building with a massive chimney that constantly billows smoke. On the inside a massive forge dominates the far wall from the entrance. All manner of smithing equipment is carefully placed around the large room that dominates most of the building. Lining the two side walls are many tools for his craft, while lining the far wall are the products of that craft.

Swords, swords of all shapes and sizes. Some brutally efficient, simple weapons and others pieces of art that are no less functional. Each and every sword is obviously the work of a master.

And the master is always present. A great robot moves around the room, always working and experimenting with its remarkable talent. The machine is a hulking, bronze coloured humanoid. The robot has a number of slides and doors, implying there's more to it than is immediately apparent. Finally, at its head is a glass dome, filled with water. Dominating the container is a great carp, as big as a man. It gazes at it's work with eyes that know little more than hate. Hate and its new inspiration.

Word travels quickly of this bizarre master swordsmith. Though it is quite fearsome, the quality of its blades are unmatched.

St. Guinevere's Sanatorium for Lunatics and Object Seekers (Player: Anyone, Gray Zone)

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This insane asylum exists for people questing after Objects from the Holders Mythos. Anyone can run an Object quest, but please look at the community agreed guidelines first as it helps keep things consistent.

If you want to use the Sanatorium for other uses, feel free, but expect it to be a house of unspeakable horrors.

The Temple of Dalachrech (Player: Earl of Purple, Grey Zone)

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The first room entered is a foyer. On the walls are red drapes with silver, two-tailed scorpions embroidered on to them, and next to the door is an ornate font. The granite font stands about waist height, and is a plinth with a bowl of unholy water. Winding around the font are carved centipedes. A door away from this chamber leads to the main prayer hall. This room also has drapes with the two-tailed scorpion device on the walls, and a red velvet carpet flanked by wooden pews leads to an altar at the far end. The altar is covered with red velvet, with a gold statue and red candles placed upon it. The statue depicts a demon with a centipede's body, a scorpion's tail with spinnerets next to the sting, a stag beetle's head and the claws of a praying mantis.

Please PM Earl of Purple before entering this location.

Trollfinger, Ironpick & Greencheek, Mining & Engineering (Player: Morty, Blue Zone)

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A run-down building near Trog's Tavern was bought by three goblin entrepreneurs with a large crew and now houses their mining and engineering company. Everyone who needs something dug, built, repaired or blown up is welcome.

Warwick Works (player: happyturtle, Grey Zone)

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In the industrial area, a building is rented and has a new sign put out front.

W
Warwick Works

The building itself consists of a small office area in front and warehouses in back. There is no indication of what sort of business this is, but a certain cyborg with a satellite might recognize the logo and name.

Witch Which's Wish Shop (Grey, Player: Haruki-kun)

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Welcome. If you have stepped into this store, it is because you have a wish.

The store is big, ancient and beautiful. It has a large garden with colourful flowers, a pond with fish and running water, and chirping birds. This is the outside of the store. The inside, however, is, to put it simply, gloomy. There’s burning candles and incense everywhere. From the hall where you enter you are led off into a side room with a low table and cushions around it. A tall, masked and unnamed stranger brings tea and snacks to the guests. The Witch sits opposite and rarely ever moves.

RULES (OOC):

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This is a Wish shop. Your character will only enter this shop if he has a wish. Whether the wish is granted or not is a different issue.
Witch Which is in charge of the shop and will grant wishes to everyone who asks, regardless of intent or alignment, as long as the appropriate price is paid. Under certain conditions:

Condition one: Witch Which will not haggle. She couldn’t lower a price or overcharge even if she wanted to. A balance must be kept in order for the wish to be granted.

Condition two: When a Wish directly affects another player’s character in a way that would be considered godmodding, the other player must agree first.

Condition three: The Witch may not reject any wish unless the price is too high to be paid. Wishes to take a life or to destroy the world, for example, carry a price higher than anyone can pay. ANYONE.

Condition Four: The Witch will never engage in battle. Be glad. The Witch is the very definition of True Neutral.

Condition Five: The store is not hard to access; in fact, there’s a big sign outside and everything. However, the store’s grounds exist in a special separate dimension, protecting it from anything that could destroy it, up to and including plot.

Condition Six: Haruki-kun reserves the right to alter the conditions if he feels they’re causing problems such as godmodding or similar issues.

(Haruki-Kun wishes for a PM to be sent to him upon someone entering the shop so he knows about it.)

Intersection HQ- LordDeathkeeper

Recently re-branded, this large but basic structure serves as the new HQ for Intersection, separate from previous Remnant associations. It's well-guarded but given a nice blue-grey paint job and is meant to look more personable and comforting than the stark look of the Empire. It is reasonably, but not heavily guarded. This building is where deputized Intersection groups may seek out the chief of police, Nick Richards.

Inside's Defenses and RemnantIntersection

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Defenses

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As stated above, the city of Inside is defended by the Walls, Moat and DOOM-Shield, but it is also defended by a more "mundane" force field that can be called upon in times of need, as well as a number of more conventional defensive capabilities, nearly all of which are manned and controlled by Intersection. These include things from Emergency Bunkers, Relief Stations, Anti-Aircraft Cannon, and the like.

Intersection

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As stated before, Intersection is Inside's police force, army, and main defensive body. It is made up of the remains of what was once the Acronymian Empire, and now has again become Insides's police force containing members from Remnant, the Altaran Irregulars and other Revived Empire units, and consists of hundreds of men, women, elves, ponies, bugs, indescribable organisms, and machines, both soldier and civilian, sacrificing their daily lives and time to make sure the city of Inside is relatively safe for it's citizens. There are Intersection Outposts all throughout the city, with the main HQ in Blue Zone, and less Outposts in Red Zone. These can be reached fairly easily, and allow people to report crimes, turn in criminals, collect bounties, and even ask to be recruited. Intersection controls most of Inside's defenses, but also controls Rapid Response Units capable of stopping fires, providing emergency medical aide, and even disaster relief to clean up debris and fix buildings and roads damaged by the day to day events of Inside.

Squads of Intersection patrol the streets "every so often" and should anyone need one, can interact with them (Please check in OOC upon doing so, however).

As a note, Low-Level Intersection officers can be Godmodded! They can be assumed to fight the fires that pop up, but can also be asked to provide basic information. This also means that they can be bribed for less well-known information such as someone's name and rank, or to look the other way for a small crime, such as theft. Anything more, please post in OOC in case there is something that needs clarified. The Intersection grunts can be godmodded to be killed on occasion, but if it happens too fast, too often, one of the Intersection players may step in and RP it out. Once again, please post in OOC if you plan on killing a Intersection NPC.

What is NOT Godmoddable:

-Getting Security Codes
-Accessing Secure Areas
-Killing off more than one or two NPCs at a time, or killing a Named Intersection NPC/PC
-Stealing Identities
-Destroying Intersection facilities

It is not impossible for these to happen, but with proper warning provided to a Intersection player, it can be RP'd out and attempted. However, it should be noted that only Low-Ranking Intersection officers can be Godmodded in this way.

[billtodamax]

Rooftops

No, no, I uh... Gods this was hard. Marina scratches the back of her neck, trying to find the words. I found your business card on a body. I believe he was trapped for some time underground, but it did not look like he suffered. At this point she pulls out both the business card and the lighter, moving forward to present them to the woman. This is all the identification he had on him.

Autumnal Equinox Ball

The next course arrives just as the previous two, simply being there when the guests look back at their plates. Even the more attentive guests (and indeed, some are getting suspicious about this food delivery menu) are finding themselves distracted momentarily by some other guest or some sound - and that's when the food appears. This time it's a roasted pork chop, succulent and rich, coated with a fig and grape agrodolce - beautifully contrasting with the meat itself - with a simple raddichio salad on the side, an added freshness that perfectly compliments the rest of the dish.

Dipsnig and Ellrinna

You should join him, Ellen. I'm sure Dipsnig could use a spy hm? She's quite tight-lipped. Bleddyn winks to Ellrinna as he says this. Or perhaps you've offered my sister a job? Keep her with your dogs, maybe. Bleddyn... Bledig says, lips curling up. Bleddyn raises his hands in a gesture of submission, remaining quiet.

Jack, Kramolagh and Feia

Maldwyn holds up a hand and beckons to the door, massive doorman appearing next to their table without apparently bothering to cross the intervening distance. Brynmor please see Maelynn away, yes? My apologies Kramolagh, Feia, Jacqueline. Maelynn won't be interrupting us any longer. The doorman's face has turned hard, all the warmth gone. He'll try and place his massive hand on Maelynn's shoulder and pull her off the table, hauling her out of the hall through a side door. Maelynn will find him terrifically strong - much stronger, even, than his frame would suggest.

Anchor and Alex

Meinir's shadow is quite happy to follow Anchor's shadow, apparently unconcerned with such simple things as "staying connected to Meinir". Meinir notices it start to leave and a small smile alights her face.

Enough to drive anyone out I suppose. I suppose your family wouldn't have needed you around if they were that well to do. Meinir says, beginning on her main course.

Cantata, Fettina, and Marina

I see you weren't too upset by my absence. Marina is wearing a sly smile, standing just nearby the pair as they return to ground. She's wearing a red strapless dress with a split halfway up her thigh, silver earrings and necklace adorned with a small snowflake. A purse is hanging from one arm. I am Marina, and that... was my date. She'll tell Fettina, although she's clearly not too upset about it. But you two must be hungry, shall we? She motions to a nearby table with a few empty seats.

Fairy Godmother and Fade

He has much love to give. Ilar tells fade, before falling silent and resting his head on his hand, looking to Paddy. Derryth for her part is eagerly looking forward to Paddy's answer.

Anulhi, Ellrin and Ivaz

You two must learn to relax. Despite what you may think we aren't some monolithic entity. Eiriol says, smiling and conjuring another martini glass for herself, which she takes a drink from immediately. Damn that looks good. There's still one in front of each of them. They could just reach out and take it. I didn't have any say in who the invitations went out to. But that wasn't really my question - what drove you two together here, today? Was Elliot here a poor lost lamb for you to shelter? Did Zavi look like a strong woman who could take care of you? She asks each of them in turn, before daintily cutting into her pork chop.

Naku and Ithuriel

Well I'm glad she's been sensible about it. Einion says, still smiling away. Hopefully my guests will be safe from your... baser hungers shall we say? He looks like he's sharing an inside joke with her, but there's an element of hardness, deep down in his expression. He is the host of this ball and it is his duty to see his guests safe. Unless they give up their safety, of course - then what is he to do?

[Celticbear]

The Address BC gave me

Kurrack smiles a birdy smile at anima, and rings the doorbell. Or tries to, he trips and falls, drunkenly. He stands back up, and rings the doorbell for reals this time.

[Deathkeeper]

[AEB- Anchor and Alex]

Alex shakes her head, and is immediately tempted by new food.
”Oh dear! So much food! This is going to be awful for my figure!” she declares, and eats just as she has for all the other courses.
”But anyway, I haven’t been gone long enough to visit. It was quiet, not really all that many stories to tell. I went to a small school on our world, and as I don’t want to get a job as a clerk or an accountant or librarian I came here. It’s not an exciting story.”

[Rebonack]

[A Quiet Commercial Area]

Take note, everyone. Literally crawling out of hell gets you free ice cream.

Or, well, it didn't get that terrible clown any icecream. Maybe you have to be not-awful for it to count.

Regardless!

Aries gets a hug. That makes him feel a bit better. Probably the first time he has had physical contact that didn't involve something trying to murder him in years.

"Thanks," he manages to choke out as he gradually gets his emotions under control. "And thanks for treating me like a person."

A heavy sigh and then he starts eating his icecream again. "...this is really good," he mutters between bites.

This... thus was good. Bit of time to decompress. Bit of time to come to terms with what he's been through.

After a good several minutes he breaks the silence with, "So... what do you do, exactly?"

It couldn't be as simple as 'Kingdom Hearts things," could it?

[Chaotic Bob]

[Arkham Street]

A mouse running around dingy streets following 1900s chic isn't likely to be noticed by anything other than a hungry cat. Unfortunately for said mouse, there are an overabundance of felines here, no doubt due to a certain author's fondness for them. Our mouse friend had best watch his step.

Now, generally speaking, strange things are in overabundance here. Though they're typically passably human or at least clad in copious loose clothing. Except, of course, for the shoggoth on the roof. Polite, well to do people simply do their best to ignore it lest they lose their minds.

Among those strange things is the young man seated on a bench outside the Philip Memorial Library. Most of the well to do folk avoid him because his complexion isn't quite pale enough for their taste. There's also the rather rampant rumor that he's a sorcerer of some kind. Which of course means people say bigoted things about him from the other side of the street rather than to his face.

Ib'bahali seems pretty content with his lot in life. He's dressed as a dapper gentleman might be, vest pressed neatly and moustache waxed. He's perusing a collection of rather esoteric tomes at the moment. In fact, the one in his hands this very moment features a certain yellow sign surgically defaced to prevent it from exerting its malicious influence.

Thankfully, most common predators can be deflected with simple mental nudges of "I'm not food", or by telekinetically flinging a pebble in their face.
Yurioc isn't terribly concerned by becoming prey here, unless it's by properly unpleasant things.
Said things are given a little more care in their avoidance, at least until he reaches his destination.

A destination which is already presenting a degree of providence, judging by the book being held by an outdoor patron.
Certainly the place has the knowledge he seeks, if someone is casually reading it on a bench!

Although...perhaps this individual would be willing to part with the book, or at least help him skip the somewhat convoluted search that would undoubtedly take place within the library itself?

To that end, the mouse stops his scurrying some distance away from the bench, before carefully reaching a tendril of thought out towards Ib'bahali.
Greeting, noble reader.

[Recaiden]

[Autumnal Equinox Ball]

They keep putting leaves on the table as if anyone wants to eat them. Ridiculous. But a porkchop, that's something.
"Much better than the opposite problem, let me tell you." Anchor grins. "I had some...serious dietary restrictions when I was young." That is to say, she could only eat people. "There was never enough. I mean, enough that I could stomach. Always hungry. Just being able to eat these weird, too-sweet...plant...things, that's a wonder."

"Now, some people, the excitement is too much for them, they're begging to go home right quick. Is there anything in particular you're looking for here? Or just 'a story'? I mean, a story is fine, but I could give you that. You want to be...a little more particular."

The shadows slip off down the table. It looks like there's an argument, some people angry with the guest list? They should listen in.

[4972 Darkwood Lane]

Does she have the right address? Yes?
Anima's confidence in this venture, already low, dips a bit further. "Too drunk to ring a doorbell without tripping over one's own feet" is a sorry state of affairs.

But she returns a polite human smile, lowers the hand that was reaching for that high-up handle, and waits for the door to be answered.

[KerfuffleMach2]

[Autumnal Equinox Ball - Ivaz]

Ivaz shrugs nonchalantly. Hey, I don't know who's who. For all I know, you might've been the one to write the invites. I mean, can you honestly tell me that a high figure in the fae world wouldn't want to disguise themselves and spend some time wandering around the common folks, gathering info? Seeing who's who? Ivaz shakes her head a bit. I know somebody here is incognito. I'm gonna assume everybody is.

She leans back in her chair a bit, getting more comfortable. Anyways, he just kinda tagged along from the door. Hasn't bothered me enough to make me get rid of him yet. She starts cutting into her pork chop, inspecting it briefly before popping it into her mouth.

-------------------------------------------------

[A Quiet Commercial Area]

Alsysha pats his back a bit during the hug.

I mean, you are a person. What else would I treat you as?

She'll let him go and get back to her ice cream, nodding in agreement. Oh yeah. This stuff is great.

At his question, she shrugs a bit. Eh, mostly going to different worlds and taking out threats to their hearts. Mostly Heartless. Sometimes other things.

Seems like it might be that simple.

[bc56]

4972 Darkwood Lane

The door is answered by a dark elf man. He is wearing a pair of skintight black pants, a white shirt, and a red vest, as well as bronze cape with a pattern of peacock feathers embroidered into it and a hat with three peacock feathers stuck in it rests at a jaunty angle on his head. He strangely seems to have no trouble turning the doorknob, despite having to reach up to his head height to grab it."Welcome! I presume you saw my ad on the wall? Come on in, make yourself at home. We have a lot to discuss." If the outside of the house is strange, this room is stranger. The far wall is not made from the same plaster and paint as the others, but is constructed from a strange black metal with a slight bulge toward the entrance, a high tech looking door set into the center of it. In addition, the room has no furniture, being completely barren save for the strange wall and a doormat right inside the door, upon which is resting a pair of combat boots far too large for any humanoid feet.

AEB

Ellrinna and Dipsnig

"Oh, I'm not for hire, not now, although it does sound exciting. Maybe later? In the meantime, I might know some people who could be clients however. Do you have a business card or something similar? I could get it to them, and they might be able to give you a call." Ellrinna actually thinks being a spy would be very fun and a good use of her talents, and she'll be sure to check it out later.

Ellrin, Ivaz, Anulhi the nonpresent

"We actually did bump into each other. Quite literally." Ellrin smiles, not even falsely. "I'm quite lucky to have stumbled upon such an intelligent and beautiful woman."

[Rebonack]

[Arkham Street]

Ibby is somewhat surprised by the telepathic contact. Telepathy typically wasn't really a thing Mythos stuff tended to get up to. As such, he initially assumes someone is talking to him aloud.

"Oh, ah, hello there?" he replies to apparently no one. "Am I conversing with someone invisible? Oh! Wait, no. Don't tell me."

He sets his book aside and fishes out a handful of sheep knuckles carved with runes. He gives them a shake, tosses them in the air, then catches them and views the result.

A result he frowns at.

"'Unseen.' That's not helpful at all. I already know he's unseen. If I could see him I wouldn't be asking why I can't see him," he grumbles, sounding vaguely annoyed. "Well mister unseen, what can I do for you? I'm kind of in the middle of researching an important subject, so I hope this isn't just for pleasantries or threats."


[A Quiet Commercial Area]

Oh.

Oh wow

It really is that simple.

"So you just fly around the multiverse in a ship made of jelly candied saving worlds from devastation?"

[Reinholdt]

[Temperance Teahouse]

"Can I see that?" Annie immediately asks next, predictably enough. Kitsuki quirks her eyebrow at Rein. Would pulling out a gun in a teahouse be a bad idea? Probably. Would Rein do it anyway? Looks like she'll find out.

[Temperance Teahouse]

"Yes..." Reinholdt says with the tone that suggests there's a but. "But not here right now." He motions around the cafe. "There are a lot of innocent people around right now and if there was an accident, someone could get seriously hurt. Weapons are to be handled carefully and most of all respected. They are tools, but they are tools designed to injure so they should only be brought out when necessary. Do you understand?" Rein asks Annie. There's more to it and he's still apparantly willing to show it to her, but he has to make sure she understands this point first.

[Lord Magtok]

[Metro Square]

Krystal raises an eyebrow.

She's comatose in a place with crazy amounts of healing magic? Yeah, no, we're gonna get her fixed up.

Krystal sighs a bit.

Okay. So, your stuff's here. Need help moving it in? Because if not, I'm gonna get to setting up some more of the store for a while.

"Fine, just get her fixed when I'm not in the same room. I'd rather not get blasted in the face with pixie dust, thanks." He'd totally deserve it if he did, though. Malice is keeping the details to himself, but that pixie didn't just happen to fall comatose and then end up in carbonite immediately after. "And I guess I could use help with the bed, but the rest of this stuff's fairly light. Griggs, mind holding down the fort and keeping an eye out while we're hauling up the bed?"

"[Russian swears and an open invitation for Malice to stick his hand in the jar again and lose a finger.]"

"Alright, thanks Griggs. Griggs says he's going to watch over the stuff." Someone clearly doesn't speak a word of Russian.

[Chaotic Bob]

[Arkham Street]

This is a surprisingly common problem, when you're a mouse.
Thankfully, Yurioc has found a few relatively straightforward solutions to it.

Namely, he starts to float up into the air and glow an ever-so-faint amount of light blue. Tends to be a bit eye-catching.
It's either that, or he'll pretend to be a small child again, but that method tends to get either a lot of patronization or creeped out looks.

You may call me Yurioc, if you wish. I apologize for the interruption, but there is an emergency underway and I was hoping to either request your book or guidance to more of its kind.

[Rebonack]

[Arkham Street]

Well.

A floating, glowing mouse.

That isn't something you see every day.

"Ah! Well, I see we've come to be concerned over the same problem then, Mister... eerr... mouse. It's a difficult problem, but one that I don't believe is insurmountable," Ibby says as he pats a nearby tome. "I'll admit, I knew the source of the trouble right away. The only problem was that this is the Nexus, so I had to divine which version of the trouble maker we're dealing with."

The Nexus can be a pest like that sometimes.

"But based on the present position of the stars and the specifics of these attacks on reality I think I've narrowed it down to a single probable cause. Our yellow friend feeds on decadent civilization. When a city catches his attention, he seeds knowledge of himself in the receptive. Artists and hedonists and the like. They spread that knowledge through art of various kinds," Ibby continues, rummaging through his collection of books. "The process feeds on itself until our yellow friend can manifest an avatar of itself and things get rapidly worse from there."

Ibby gives the mouse a hopeful look.

"Have you found an active yellow sign? I've been hoping to try a few different techniques for sealing it. I'm a bit rusty on my arrays, but I think I should be up to the task."

[Felandria]

[AEB]

[Dipsnig and Ellrina]

"I was still a child," Dipsnig says. "My earliest memory of the surface is when I was... four years old?" he muses. "It was in the evening, so the sun wasn't too bright. Most goblins see the surface as children too, but later. Of course, you can't keep wolves underground, so we lived very high up."

[Felandria and King in Rags]

The King in Rags inclines his head slightly.

"I was a Lord of the Fae, ruling alongside my peers in a land far from here. The Fairest of Lands, we called it. But in time, it grew closer to the mortal world, and much conflict was borne out of it. I was one of the greatest among the Lords and Ladies and I led hosts of the Faerie. But I was betrayed by my own subjects, half-fey creatures known as the Gol-kin. Their betrayal cast me down into darkness for a long time."

Felandria’s face grows sadder as she listens to the King’s story.

Oh my gosh, you poor dear.

Why would they do such I think, that’s awful.

She will lean over and aim to give the KIR a friendly little comfort hug.

[Chaotic Bob]

[Arkham Street]

The glowing aspect of things peters out once Yurioc has the attention he was looking for.
Now he's just an "ordinary" floating white mouse.

Said mouse looks happy, somehow, about what he is hearing, too.
This individual already seems to harbor useful knowledge, in some form or another. Currently unverified knowledge, but the concept at least sounds correct.

Time to make a quick bargain.
I know of such a thing. Would you permit me access to your book, if I lead you to it?

[Rebonack]

[Arkham Street]

Ibby's excited look falters slightly, but only slightly. "Ah, well, they aren't my books. They belong to the library and aren't to be taken off library grounds. Which we're technically still on."

He glances down at the books, then back at the mouse. "I could let you take a peek before I return them? The relevant text is a class three memetic cognitohazard, though. You probably shouldn't be looking at it unless you have the proper cognitive defense in place ahead of time."

He peers at the mouse a few seconds longer. "You look like you're using psionics. Right? Yeah, definitely psionics. Do you know the mindblank technique? That would probably be sufficient to prevent total ego sublimation if you still wanted to peruse the text yourself."

[Earl of Purple]

Rooftops

The elf's face falls at the sound of one of their own dying. "Oh, Simon. I'd wondered what'd happened to you. Where's the body? We'll have to go fish him up, give him a sky-burial. He's got no one else, most of us don't. Thank you for finding us and letting us know." She'll take the identification if allowed, and all the Freerunners look sad.

AEB- Jack, Feia, Kramolagh

Jack watches the fae server get escorted away, sipping her champagne as she does. "So, um. What do you guys do?" She asks Feia and Kramolagh, taking the drama in her stride.

AEB- Fade & the Godfather

"I said the only thing I've learnt is not to treat women as things and pass them around to others. My previous marriages have come to an abrupt end for a variety of different reasons. Three had affairs, one with the janitor, one with their ex-wife, and one with my ex-wife who was also their ex-wife. That's wives one, two and four. One I cheated on, accidentally. That was the twin, wife eight. They swapped, to see if I knew the difference. I didn't. Wife three ran away after stealing a pot of gold and going on a gambling spree. Wife five tried to murder me to take over my business. Wife six I forgot, for six months. I'd upset a pooka, and it stole my memory of her. She didn't believe me, even after I had the pooka's legs broken and thrown off a bridge. Wife seven I'd married in those six months, and left me because I was already married. See? Eight wives, eight different reasons for the divorce. Well, seven, I guess. 'I want to marry your ex-wife' is pretty similar to 'I want to marry my ex-wife', meaning those two had three seperate marriages I'm aware of. I went to two of them."

I'm not sure Paddy is entirely to blame for some of those.

[Chaotic Bob]

[Arkham Street]

Yurioc considers this for a moment.
That first part, about not being able to take the book. The latter issue is brushed aside a little bit, in the easily confident tone of one quite practiced.
If I had no capacity for such techniques, I fear deeply for what would have happened when I intercepted the Sign's assault on my friend's mind.

He is still very, very concerned about it. Just not outright terrified of it.

I have techniques to retain the knowledge for later. I would just need the time to flip through your book. It would not take much time, I promise.

[Autumnal Equinox Ball - Feia, Kram, Jack, and Co]

Feia continues to observe the situation with the bouncer and servant, curious about how simply that may or may not be going.
Touch anticlimactic, if that's the ending of the situation. Perhaps she can hunt down the servant later?

"I plumb the depths of Creation for its secrets. A very fulfilling career, I would say."

[Morty]

[AEB]

[Dipsnig and Ellrina]

Dipsnig's ears perk up with amusement as he answers Ellrina.

"I can give you MERC's contact information once the party is over. I do hope we can come to an arrangement with your friends. I can't say we have an opening in the beast pens, though. Our druid is handling things well by herself."

[Felandria and King in Rags]

The King in Rags has existed for millenia, in some form or other. When he first emerged as a distinct consciousness from the churning primordial force of the Fairest of Lands, time as such didn't really exist. And yet, in all this time and not-time, spend on things often unfathomable to mortals, no one has ever hugged him. He is, for a moment, speechless, before continuing.

"I... yes. My children proved ungrateful. The lure of mortality proved too strong. They went on to become orcs, goblins and hobgoblins. They still live, having forgotten their origins. Such is the irony of history, is it not?"

[Rebonack]

[Arkham Street]

"Oh good, it would have been awful if yellow lamprays started sprouting from your eyes," Ibby says. He'll angle the book so Yu can read it over his shoulder. The information contained therein is a primer on Hastur and related awfulness. Including a bunch of useless speculation about how such a being could have arisen.

The important bits focus on what they're dealing with and potentially ways to deal with it. The tome concludes with the assertion, 'the only sure-fire way to thwart Hastur is by summoning Old Man Henderson which will undoubtedly result in your accidental and gruesome demise.'

"The bit about our yellow friend eating enough cities to ascend as an Outer God doesn't seem quite right to me. But I think that's just THIS version not matching up with the way Mother and her siblings work, insofar as Outer Gods work in any appreciable sense of the word."

[Hattish Thing]

[Ominous]

Dammit. Of course she's freaking out, why wouldn't she be freaking out?
If she's actually just an innocently ignorant pawn, this has to look super creepy. And probably terrifying, if she's one of the more Mundane members of the city.

Just a poor little artist girl, trapped in an alley by a scary magic guy.

Xeni eyes that taser for a moment, raising up his hands in a peaceful gesture, before he takes a step or two back and takes a seat on...nothing.
Probably another invisible block, like what made up those walls.
"You're not going to relax, are you?"

Yurioc was so much better at this. Why didn't they just switch places? He could handle the mentally borked artist while Xeni reads the books.

"Please relax? Look, I'm over here sitting down nonthreateningly and everything."

With her head pounding and body aching, Layne momentarily reverts to as base a form of consciousness as possible, relying on adrenaline and fight-or-flight to guide her out of the situation. First the brawl with Arlon, now this magical freak in the alley, it was too much! She regretted ever responding to the blue-robed figure.

Hers was the sort of face that seemed only more attractive when angered or sullen, yet Xeni will likely find himself more alarmed than allured.
She waves the taser forward aggressively before arching her brow, pulling the trigger.

"Stay the hell away from me!"

[Gnrlshrimp]

[AEB - Feia, Kram, Jack, etc.]

Maelynn turns to smile at Maldwyn again. She doesn't look concerned, but perhaps he'll notice that twitch at the corners of her mouth that suggests she really doesn't want to be smiling right now, perhaps the faintest hint in her eyes that how she looks is not how she feels - not that she can do anything about it. She dances back out of Brynmor's reach for the moment, her voice still as chipper as ever. "Aww, Maldwyn, did you have to go do that? I can't leave before I'm done! I'll drop dead before I can leave!" As she speaks, her cheeks start to flush, then quickly her whole face turns a little red, with a deep angry purple starting to form at her cheeks.

And boy, does she ever look hot all of a sudden. Is it getting warm in here or is it just her?

Just her? Okay then.

"I guess you could say I'm not just passing on a message, I'm also sort of a hostage? Do you wanna see me die, Maldy? 'cos I will!" As she happily, chirpily announces this, she looks back to Kramolagh, "You started it, Mistuh Kram! And you can't really blame the Vhinter Court for this when I'm under someone else's control, can you? You vere mistaken in zhinking you could do something in Inside without consequence though!" That smile is stubbornly glued on her face, no matter how much she twitches about it. Her piece mostly done, she then surrenders herself to Brynmor. "So whaddya think, Mistuh Kram, has it been twenty four hours yet? I warn ya, if I start getting dragged away, I'll drop dead on the spooot!"

*****

[AEB - N&I]

Einion's comment about Naku's baser hunger draws a noticeable hardening in Ithuriel's expression, which is about the most she can outwardly show in terms of disapproval at his words. Really, she'd expect their host to have a little more tact than that!

Still, this could just be another bit of fae trickery. Perhaps there are consequences to criticism as well?

"I don't think there's any real danger with the security you have in place, Lord Hier. But don't worry, I'll make sure to keep a very close eye on my companion throughout the evening."

[Hattish Thing]

[AEB - Feia, Kram, Jack, etc.]

With a cool and relaxed expression upon his angular face, Kramolagh leans forward, staring deep into Maewynn's eyes. Below the table, he calmly presses a small device at his belt before whispering a chillingly casual response, as if discussing something as inconsequential as what was to be had for dinner.

"Do it, zhen."

[Chaotic Bob]

[Ominous Street]

There's a certain degree of arrogance that is inherent to being a mage past a certain magnitude, when it comes to perceived "normal" people.
It is in this arrogance, that Xeni made an unfortunate assumption.

There's an alarmed look on his face as she actually goes through the motions of firing the taser and he starts to raise another placating hand.
"Uh, hold on. Wai-"
And then she shoots the taser.

A few other arrogant assumptions preclude what follows, though the primary one involves some lazy handling of a particularly important characteristic of himself.
Usually when you tase someone, they just sort of...spaz out and become kind of useless.
Xeni does do a bit of the twitching.

He also seems to melt. From where the taser impacts on his chest, the coloration of his clothing rapidly fades to an ugly gray, which spreads outward over his body like a particularly virulent stain.
The robe seems collapse down into a formless gown of some sort, while his skin takes on a sickly, lighter gray coloration kind of like bad molding clay.
His hair recedes into his head and his facial features become sort of indistinct and smoothed over, while his hands seem to distend and grow uncomfortably longer out of his wrists. Overall, he seems to thin out and stretch.

"C-c-c-come o-o-o-n, d-d-d-DAMMIT."
One of those disturbingly drawn out hands jerkily reaches up and tears the taser contacts from his (its?) body and he swiftly stands up, rising a good couple feet higher in the air than before.
"I have tried to be nice. Drop the taser or I'm going to restrain you very uncomfortably."

What had once been somewhat expressive eyes are not milky white surfaces, yet the faint movements of his rounded forehead still imply displeasure.
One gets the impression that he's starting to creep towards angry around now.

[Arkham Street]

Yurioc, meanwhile, is enjoying a new book! Insofar as one can actually enjoy a book of this nature.
He's relishing the opportunity for new knowledge, despite the risk of it.

How certain is this author that 'Old Man Hendricks' is both necessary and fatal? Would locating all the glyphs and disabling them not be sufficient to spare the city?
There are always more options, he has come to learn over his life. They may be awful or terribly difficult, but there are always other things one can do.

He never really looks anywhere but near-obsessively at the book, over the course of this. Too busy absorbing everything he can.

[KerfuffleMach2]

[A Quiet Commercial Area]

Oh.

Oh wow

It really is that simple.

"So you just fly around the multiverse in a ship made of jelly candied saving worlds from devastation?"

[A Quiet Commercial Area]

Alysha chuckles. See, I know they're called Gummi Ships, but they're not actually made of candy. Disappointing, I know.

But yeah, I do that a lot. Get some down time, too. I'm not the only Keyblade wielder, and some times the forces of darkness aren't doing much.

"Fine, just get her fixed when I'm not in the same room. I'd rather not get blasted in the face with pixie dust, thanks." He'd totally deserve it if he did, though. Malice is keeping the details to himself, but that pixie didn't just happen to fall comatose and then end up in carbonite immediately after. "And I guess I could use help with the bed, but the rest of this stuff's fairly light. Griggs, mind holding down the fort and keeping an eye out while we're hauling up the bed?"

"[Russian swears and an open invitation for Malice to stick his hand in the jar again and lose a finger.]"

"Alright, thanks Griggs. Griggs says he's going to watch over the stuff." Someone clearly doesn't speak a word of Russian.

[Metro Square]

Krystal chuckles. Dude, I don't speak any Russian, and even I know he didn't say that.

Krystal will help Malice move anything he needs help with to his apartment. She'll also go to take the pixie to her apartment to look into getting her revived.

Afterwards, Krystal will set about getting the store ready. Putting up the shelves, decorations, getting merchandise in place. Stuff like that.

[Rebonack]

[Arkham Street]

"I think Old Man Henderson is meant to be a last resort," Ibby admits. "Though having some scotch, cannabis, and ceramic lawn gnomes on hand for the summoning ritual just in case wouldn't be a terrible idea."

Dealing with eldritch things never gets any less weird.

"I'm planning on trying a thrice inscribed heptagram with the sign of Koth at the focus and the Mother's seal at the zenith. Ideally I would want to include the Formless mark, but I'm not sure where I could pick up mummified flesh with any degree of ease."

What.

"We're ready to go, right? Would you mind leading the way?" Ibby asks, excited to try some sealing techniques. Should he get an affirmative reply he'll quickly return his books and follow the mouse.


[A Quiet Commercial Area]

"Huh..." Aries hums. "You know, I spent so long clawing my way out of the Pit I never really gave any thought to what I would be doing once I got out."

He gives a bit of a sigh.

"You've got it easy. Destiny and a mission. Save the world, meet princesses, eat icecream with fluffy dorks..."

[KerfuffleMach2]

[A Quiet Commercial Area]

Alysha smiles and pats his shoulder.

Hey, the freedom to choose what to do with your life is a great thing. You really don't have any limits.

Take it one step at a time. What do you want to do next?

[billtodamax]

Rooftops

Marina hands over the lighter and the business card, trying to rest a hand on the girl's shoulders. I am... truly sorry. He's underground, through a hole in the Smiley Dragon Play Park. You just <directions> and you'll find him in a bunker there. Marina tells her. She looks like she's about to say something more, before deciding against it. She'll try to pat the girl on the shoulder a couple times (presuming she was allowed to rest her hand there to begin with) before turning back towards the drain pipe she climbed up.

Ominous Street

Xeni will likely feel a force pressing against their invisible walls - an incredible strength focused in a single palm, trying to simply push through the wall. Layne, however, will see the presence of Anastasia - she's about 9 feet tall, her skin a dull grey and covered with scars. She looks similar to an ogre, but without any of the colour or life they usually possess. She's wearing what looks like an old curtain crudely wrapped into a sort of dress, and visible just past her is an array of weaponry protruding from her back. She has one hand place experimentally upon the wall and is pushing against it. Stop this. She says to Xeni, voice a dead monotone.

Autumnal Equinox Ball

Anchor and Alex

Meinir gives Anchor an appraising look, clearly curious about her dietary restrictions but not willing to interrupt her questions. If she's looking for excitement she's in the right place. She simply comments, spearing some radicchio and eating it as she waits for Alex's answer.

Anulhi, Ellrin and Ivaz

The compliment is appreciated, Elliot, but you should really stick to one woman at a time. Eiriol tells him, with a sly smile. She's well aware he wasn't complimenting her but she's certainly going to take it. And please, Zavi, if I was really that important I'd be sitting with Einion and Drysi. Not that I'm not enjoying our conversation, I think it's been very productive.

Dipsnig and Ellrinna

Ah, what a shame Bledig, his beast pens are full. Bleddyn's comment gets a glare from his sister, real anger crossing her face. He quickly changes the subject. This must be considered quite a successful excursion then, no? It sounds like you're getting two job offers just from tonight. He tells Dipsnig. Is this how you get all your work? Hobnobbing at balls?

Felandria and King in Rags

The fae behind the King in Rags starts forward at Felandria's touch, but seeing her new master isn't complaining she settles back down. So presumptious! Drysi for her part has turned to her food and is very closely inspecting the menu that she surely must have had a say in already. If either the King in Rags or Felandria is paying her attention they'll see she's covering her mouth to hide a smile.

Torlan isn't being nearly so polite, grinning ear to ear as they watch the King get hugged. Clearly not an experience his majesty is used to. I hope you punished them, your majesty. She adds.

Jack, Kramolagh and Feia

Shield the guests. Maldwyn comments to Brynmor, and the mountain of a man will try and interpose his body between the fae and the guests before hauling her away. Maldwyn looks away from the fae before sitting back down at the table. Well, a bit of excitement there. He says to the table, jovial smile back on his face.

[Rebonack]

[A Quiet Commercial Area]

"I had plans before Sheol got me," Aries sighs. "But... like most human bits of me, they got eroded away. Honestly didn't give much thought beyond survival."

He takes another lick.

"Heh. First step. I'm going to eat this icecream too fast and get brain freeze."

Aries yawns his toothy maw way too wide, tosses the whole cone in, and crunches it in one bite.

NOM!

And then moments later?

"Ow! Ow ow ow..."