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    Ogre in the Playground
     
    Deathkeeper's Avatar

    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    Definitely lost
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    Male

    Default Inside 68: Dawn of a New Season (or two)

    Current Events: Spring has officially arrived! Stop to smell the flowers. Or not, because they might be hiding Skinwalkers.

    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, traveler, 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 Nightmćre. It isn't at all uncommon to find patrols of nightmćre 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.

    Spoiler
    Show
    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)
    Spoiler
    Show
    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)
    Spoiler
    Show
    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)
    Spoiler
    Show
    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)
    Spoiler
    Show
    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)
    Spoiler
    Show
    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)
    Spoiler
    Show
    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)
    Spoiler
    Show

    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):
    Spoiler
    Show
    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
    Spoiler
    Show


    Defenses
    Spoiler
    Show

    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
    Spoiler
    Show

    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.
    Spako Highclaws by Ceika.

    [Sorry Boss, but as always, I get the last word.]

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    Troll in the Playground
     
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    Default Re: Inside 68: Dawn of a New Season (or two)

    Abrajin's Library

    "A lamb ma'am?
    I may have seen such a thing.
    From where has it gone missing?"

    Unfortunately, the scout does not have enough facial features to properly express how puzzled it is at its speech. There had to be more efficient ways to say that, why couldn't it use them? It stands up and heads to the door.
    But it's the wrong door. That is disconcerting. It recalls that there was a "Plants" room next to one of the other rooms it was in, and beckons the woman that way.
    Awesome avatar (Kothar, paladin of Tlacua) by Linkele!

    Quote Originally Posted by William Shakespeare, King Lear, IV.i.46
    'Tis the time's plague, when madmen lead the blind.
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    NecromancerGirl

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    Default Re: Inside 68: Dawn of a New Season (or two)

    Quote Originally Posted by bc56 View Post
    Into the Dungeon

    Tethrik raises his fists and grabs the skeleton, punching it in the face as he speaks. "Just" PUNCH "crawl" PUNCH "back" PUNCH "into" PUNCH "your" PUNCH
    "grave!"
    Into The Dungeon

    The skeletons face crumbles more with every punch, and goes limp after the punching is over.

    Lynx brings rapid strikes down on the skeleton in front of him, and the skeleton falls to the ground. Lynx gives a whoop of joy, then gets tackled from behind by a skeleton!
    After 2 years of silence, I reappear!

    Place your bets now, how long until I disappear again

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    Default Re: Inside 68: Dawn of a New Season (or two)

    [Abrajin's Library]

    "I..." the woman mutters back.

    She still looks dazed. Confused.

    Like she isn't used to thinking on her own.

    Or even thinking at all.

    "I- no- my lamb went ahead. Through a door. Alone. I didn't... she didn't know that the rooms are different planes. We were separated."

    The woman follows the scout through the Plants door. She's used to following something else's lead.

    That's how she was designed, after all.

    And upon stepping through the door...

    Welcome to the jungle.

    Dense foliage surrounds our heroes, plants of every conceivable size and type. Flowers, trees, shrubs, vines, and some really colorful fruit abound

    ...maybe don't get close to those.

    Books hang from trees and shrubs like fruit. Which is... weird. Though no weirder than the way books have been displayed anywhere else.

    A strange thrumming sound pulses from somewhere within a thicket...

    A mass of rotting vegetation and detritus nearby appears to be breathing...

    Hanging from a branch is a singularly delightful looking fruit, pleasant to the eyes. And... is that a snake up in the branches?

    In one direction the air feels heavy with moisture...

    A massive venus flytrap dominates one corner of the room. Maybe getting close to that isn't wise...

    Near the center of the room a powerful down-gust can be felt blasting out of the canopy.

    Five doors out present themselves.
    Grain
    Medicine
    Building Materials
    Fruit
    Sun
    Warning! Random Encounter™ detected!
    The Eternal Game Nightmćre Stuff
    It doesn't matter whether you win or lose, just how awesome you look doing it.

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    Default Re: Inside 68: Dawn of a New Season (or two)

    [Industrial Strength Investigation]

    Quote Originally Posted by Nova_Eclipse View Post
    There's not much info in the files, just addresses and the name of the owners of the businesses. The factory apparently manufactured various types of cybernetics, since the term is in the name. The shops, at first glance, seem unconnected. Some of them cater to psychics, while others are known for selling magical reagents of one sort or another. However, one appears to have catered to both the cybernetic and magical markets at once. The report from the warehouse states that the owners are going through manifests to determine what all is missing; apparently, some of their records were taken as well. The only site missing people is the factory, which is a relief, though there are sure to be angry business owners on the phone to the department soon wondering about the status of the investigation. Probably best to be elsewhere when that happens.
    Once he familiarized himself with the files, Michalson gathers some notes of his own. All of his writings and records of the magic and artifice he's encountered in his travels. Once he's done with that, his first stop will be the warehouse. He needs to know what was taken from there. He has a suspicion as to what might be happening...
    My FFRP characters. Avatar by Ashen Lilies. Sigatars by Ashen Lilies, Gullara and Purple Eagle.
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    Default Re: Inside 68: Dawn of a New Season (or two)

    Abrajin's Library

    "Domestication is our goal
    We must arrive there safe and whole
    Now which door is best to take?
    A wrong turn is a fatal mistake.

    The scout doesn't recognize any of these doors. That's pretty unfortunate. It will have to make an educated guess, but it doesn't have enough information to rule out many of the options.

    Into the Dungeon

    "Get off of him, you bony mongrel!" Tethrik reaches out to grab the skeleton by the shoulders and pull it off Lynx. "Unless you want me to use your toes for toothpicks."
    Last edited by bc56; 2019-03-22 at 09:45 PM.
    Awesome avatar (Kothar, paladin of Tlacua) by Linkele!

    Quote Originally Posted by William Shakespeare, King Lear, IV.i.46
    'Tis the time's plague, when madmen lead the blind.
    My Nexus characters

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    NecromancerGirl

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    Default Re: Inside 68: Dawn of a New Season (or two)

    Quote Originally Posted by bc56 View Post
    Into the Dungeon

    "Get off of him, you bony mongrel!" Tethrik reaches out to grab the skeleton by the shoulders and pull it off Lynx. "Unless you want me to use your toes for toothpicks."
    The skeleton comes off, and Lynx flips to face it, letting loose a roar. He begins hacking at the skeleton with the scythe. Lynx's demeanor has changed: he attacks with a ferocity that he didn't have a few moments ago, and his face is a mask of anger.
    After 2 years of silence, I reappear!

    Place your bets now, how long until I disappear again

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    Bugbear in the Playground
     
    NinjaGuy

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    Default Re: Inside 68: Dawn of a New Season (or two)

    [Industrial Strength Investigation]

    Apparently, the Sergeant and the report are somewhat at odds. The Sergeant was the more accurate of the two, for when Michalson arrives at the address in question, he finds an empty lot in one of Inside's more run down commercial sectors. Actually, empty lot is an understatement. Whatever took the warehouse was entirely thorough; stealing not just the entire building, but cutting a neat rectangle out of the ground below it, stealing its entire foundation as well. The scene has been blocked off by barricades and tape, and one of the uniforms on site comes over as the detective approaches, and nods to him.

    "Sergeant said you'd be on your way; you're Michalson, right? There ain't much to go on here, yet. We're trying to get access to some of the neighboring facilities' surveillance cameras, but it might take another few hours before we have anything."
    Why is it Plan A is always, "Get 'Em!" and Plan B is, "Cause as much collateral damage as possible"?

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    Default Re: Inside 68: Dawn of a New Season (or two)

    [Industrial Strength Investigation]

    "Well I'll be an abishai's breakfast..." Michalson mutters, then addresses the policeman. "That's me, aye. Someone nicked this place good. I don't know if surveillance cameras will help us much, anyhow. How's it goin' with assemblin' records? They might tell us why someone just went an' pinched a whole brick beast."
    My FFRP characters. Avatar by Ashen Lilies. Sigatars by Ashen Lilies, Gullara and Purple Eagle.
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    Bugbear in the Playground
     
    NinjaGuy

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    Default Re: Inside 68: Dawn of a New Season (or two)

    [Industrial Strength Investigation]

    "The owners are still trying to locate what backup records they might have had offsite, though they did mention that there were a number of containers of armoring materials that were delivered a few days ago. Raw kevlar, titanium and ceramics, they said, though they don't have the full quantity list. Apparently, the list hadn't been transferred off-site to storage yet. Most of the other stuff was long-term deep storage, they said," the officer explains, scratching his head with the end of his pencil as he looks through his notes. "O'Malley and Kiskei went with them to try and help the process along; apparently the records are stored in a small storage facility in another part of town. I can give you the address, if you want, sir."
    Why is it Plan A is always, "Get 'Em!" and Plan B is, "Cause as much collateral damage as possible"?

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    Default Re: Inside 68: Dawn of a New Season (or two)

    [Industrial Strength Investigation]

    Michalson takes some notes in his small notebook.

    "Lack of records won't help things along," he says. "But checking what records they do have is my first step. How much do we 'ave on what was nicked from the other shops?"
    My FFRP characters. Avatar by Ashen Lilies. Sigatars by Ashen Lilies, Gullara and Purple Eagle.
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    Default Re: Inside 68: Dawn of a New Season (or two)

    Spoiler: Docks Spoils
    Show
    Quote Originally Posted by Morty View Post
    [The Docks]

    "Is it dead?" Calm Reed asks as the angel and the flower start falling down. "Did we finally kill it?"
    Quote Originally Posted by Nova_Eclipse View Post
    [The Docks]

    "I hope so, but I can't really tell yet. If it gets back up and starts yelling at us again in a minute, we'll know,"
    Quin comments dryly.
    Quote Originally Posted by Rebonack View Post
    [The Docks]

    The roiling sphere of color is watched from a safe distance until it dissipates. After a few moments of peace, the mew will drift over to the blast zone to survey what happened. Just in cast the orb was summoning something else. One can never be too sure with beings like this. How are you supposed to guess what sorts of abilities they have? Better to be sure.

    Once's she's over the zone she'll probably have a good view of dead sea birds and some drifting fish carcasses.

    Which makes her breath catch in her throat.

    Okay.

    Yeah.

    It was a really REALLY good idea to catch that orb.

    With visions of what might have happened had she failed dancing in her head (and with all thoughts of mercy toward the 'angel' scoured away) she turns back toward the mainland.

    Geneva's next part here isn't terribly exciting.

    She's flying back toward the docks! She'll probably arrive in a little bit.
    Quote Originally Posted by Arkhosia View Post
    The Docks

    Calm Reed's inquiry is given an answer of sorts when Blanche switches her rifle to semi-auto and fires a bullet at the collapsed angel's head, making sure to finish it off while it's down if it isn't already. Rude, dishonorable and possibly uncalled for? Perhaps, but Blanche has absolutely no desire to see this thing get back up and fight them all over again. That done, she will make her way over to join the rest.

    "Well, that was a thing." She comments, before adding "Good work, by the way." Stepping away, she'll call VIGIL and update them on the mission.
    Quote Originally Posted by Shadowcaller View Post
    [The Docks]

    Anika the bear roars in triumph as she sees the weird stalk go down. After all this, it felt like they had at least accomplished something beyond collateral damage.
    Still, it was too early to call this a victory yet. Those creeps could be anywhere at this point. Still, there wasn't anything obvious she could rush over so she will wait for further orders for now.

    Hopefully the goblins wouldn't be too upset about her blowing up their ship...


    Spoiler: Industrial Spoils
    Show
    Quote Originally Posted by Rebonack View Post
    [Industrial Park]

    "Alright, ritual to stop. I don't know how much you've been told about these creatures, but the less you interact with them the better. Don't let them touch you. Don't let them vomit on you. If either of those things happen let me know right away. I can heal the damage they cause, but only if I get to it quickly. We need a codeword, too, in case we get separated. I think-"

    Then Morning Glory's tail is on fire.

    The air is filled with the rather horrid scent of burning hair.

    "Ah!"

    Flailing follows. Mostly thrashing the tail around, which of course makes the fire worse.

    She can't really stop and roll, since the fire is on her tail. She can't stomp on it, since she can't reach her tail. Eventually she settles on giving her tail a flick, causing all the hair to simply drop off in a burning heap. Then it immediately begins to regrow.

    "Passphrase is 'tail fire'," she pronounces whilst giving Down a venomous look.

    And then... huh. Morning feels something. In her wings? That's a different sort of feeling. Must be how pegasi sense weather-related phenomena? She doesn't have much time to contemplate before Down dives into the pit. Apparently it's time to hurry.

    "Sorry if the trip down is bumpy, I'm still learning," Morning says as she moves to grab Jaahlyn and carry her down into the abyss.

    The trip will, in fact, be bumpy.

    They won't crash, at least!
    Quote Originally Posted by Shadowcaller View Post
    [Industrial Park]

    Jaahlyn raises an eyebrow at the two's antics. Well, she could hardly complain at this point. Whatever they were doing, they seemed much more prepared than they had been.
    This whole thing had turned out to be far greater than she had been informed about. If she had known there would be mages casting doom rituals that caused temperature changes in addition to shapeshifters, she would have come with a much larger arsenal at her disposal.

    Besides, all this made her even less inclined to believe the two were shapeshifters under some rouse.
    The bard let's herself be grabbed while getting her instrument. She believed it would prove more effective against these creatures than any weapon she had on hand would.
    Quote Originally Posted by Leostales View Post

    Muun is prepared to go as well. He thinks he may have an idea on something to use to their advantage. He removes a stocking hat from his pocket and puts it on his head. But when it is put on it turns into a gold mask shaped like a screaming face. He feels like a totally different person while wearing it. "This mask has magical properties. I don't really know how to use them, but it might have some side effects that could prove useful."

    EDIT OOC:
    If you guys need to skip my turn go ahead, I may be slow on posting.


    Spoiler: Orphanage Reminder Spoils
    Show
    Quote Originally Posted by Gnrlshrimp View Post
    [Golden Flock Orphanage]

    Okay. No time for comforting angel voice any more. No time for anything. Judging from Ithuriel's expression, which she can't keep from flashing across her face for a moment, the full force of the child's divinity has been like a gut-punch, knocking the wind straight out of her.

    One hand shakily rests on her stomach as she looks down at the ground silently, in a state of shock, her body heaving with the strain of fighting for every breath and stubbornly refusing to give in to that feeling, that insistent voice telling her to just stop. Rest. Let the darkness wash over her and embrace her in eternal peace and silence.

    "I- I- oh, gods, how?" The angel gasps, fighting back tears. There's no time for that now. There's no time to process this at all. Cry later, focus on living now, that's what matters.

    "Y'can do this, kid. You can. I'll give you as long as I can. This is gonna look a bit scary, but it'll help me...handle this." She shifts, growing into a bulky bipedal semi-rhino, breaking what elements of her riot gear she hadn't been able to remove. Mentally resisting is entirely down to Ithuriel's own willpower, but fighting off the physical effects - keeping her body from just shutting down is made much easier by the incredible regenerative properties she has, particularly like this. It won't keep her going forever, but it buys time. "They're all gonna be fine, and I can tough this out as long as you need me to."
    Quote Originally Posted by Rebonack View Post
    [Golden Flock Orphanage]

    Red is concerned.

    Unfortunately she doesn't really have any tools for dealing with waves of death eating away at someone else. Her own wards can kind of help in that regard, but they wouldn't be terribly useful here. They're more apt for taking a small number of catastrophic blows for her. They don't deal well with things nibbling through them.

    She has her orders, though, and continues levitating the children out of the room.

    She'll give that guy in the suit a withering glare, too.

    "Keep an eye on our dapper trouble maker, dear," she says to Mo before extending her telekinetic glow around the whole mess of children. The unicorn gives a grunt of effort, staggering slightly under the strain. Levitating this much weight and so many objects at once is rather taxing.

    She'll probably be paying for this with a nasty head ache later.

    "I'll be back as soon as the little ones are clear," she says as she begins staggering toward the exit, her constellation of glowing orphans in tow.


    [The Docks - Angelic Postmortem]

    After the angel falls (and Blanche rather rudely gives it yet another cranial hole), that uncomfortable post-disaster stillness falls over the area. No more divine shouts, wild flailing, and less gunfire. Being Inside, there is undoubtedly still some of this somewhere, but here...here seems to be quieter now. There's not even a notable amount of civilian injuries that need to be dealt with right away, as most anyone sane ran away as soon as the plant unfolded. There's likely to be some in buildings affected by the fall, maybe.

    A piece of the tavern the plant grew out of collapses inwards a little further, as the weight of the changed situation unsteadies it, but nothing else particularly traumatic seems to be happening right now.

    Victory for the party!
    Although, there's still a clear question here: who called in the angel and where are they?

    [Industrial Park - Underground]

    Down is spared from having to explain her amused expression at Zee's displeasure by her face mask. She can regrow her tail, what do a little fire matter to her?

    She has no idea what to make of Muun's peculiar hat, but as long as it does something vaguely useful that doesn't also get everyone killed, she doesn't care either.
    Which reminds her a little bit that she really should have sent these two away entirely, but...too late. They're committed now.

    So with that thought in mind, after smoothly (compared to Zee, anyway; the dive is still unpleasant) dropping underground, Down promptly releases Muun onto the cave floor and canters a very brief ways towards the direction of the cold.
    "Okay...so, I don't really know very much about whatever crazy magic they're probably doing in there, so I'm hoping one of you three can figure that part out. I hit things, I don't cast or uncast or whatever. Rules: if it moves and you can't immediately tell it's one of us, kill it. If one of us disappears, immediately mention it and do not go searching alone. If said missing individual returns, I personally recommend setting them on fire, but you can try her pass-code thing. Stay close together, or at least within very easy eyesight and earshot. No helping victims. There won't be any, just monsters. Kill them."

    She rattles off a quick series of clearly jaded and cold requirements for their expedition, before jerking a wing off in the direction of the cold, against a sudden blisteringly cold gust of wind.
    "Now, does anyone have a plan better than charge forward guns blazing? Clock's ticking pretty fast."
    "Fear and creativity are conjoined twins."
    Absentee Spirit

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    Default Re: Inside 68: Dawn of a New Season (or two)

    [The Docks - Angelic Postmortem]

    Gotta be the facestealers or whatever they called them right? Or at least that's Anika's conclusion as she changes back into her humanoid form. "Okay guys, let's with patting ourselves on the back until we dealt with those shapestealers. Geneva and I found them down in the sewers and I bet my sweet ass that the inn is connected to them so let's head there and investigate!" She won't actually rush ahead this time however, she is waiting for confirmation from the others.

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    Default Re: Inside 68: Dawn of a New Season (or two)

    Quote Originally Posted by Deathkeeper View Post
    [Rambling- Grant]

    Grant smiles and opens his bag, taking out a worn leather belt.
    "This is my grandpa's lucky belt. I have a lot of things from Gramps. But this is his Lucky Belt. He wore it every day he saw combat out in the frontier. It even blocked an arrow once, see that part where the buckle had to get fixed? Sixteen engagements, not a scratch. Only the last one, when he didn't wear it, did he get hurt. And then he went and produced Dad, somehow." From his tone, it seems Grant isn't too fond of his father.
    "It also kept his pants from falling down."
    Rambling - Grant

    "Well, he certainly wasn't wearing it when he made your dad." Fezziro mumbles to himself as he looks down at the belt, just barely on the edge of Grant's hearing. He takes a long time to consider the artifact, longer than Grant might feel is necessary.

    "The scar is good, lends credence to the story. Luck magic's incredibly fickle and will often abandon the user the moment they most rely on it, only to come back as soon as the situation is really dire just to make them all the more grateful. I have a theory that luck has its own mind, away and apart from anything I can imbue into an object. I'd have to be really careful about selling this, but well... I did promise you the statue and the nail in exchange for a relic, a good story, and of course your money." Fezziro almost seems like he's regretting that offer, but only nearly.

    "At the very least, it will be a protective against the ending of a family line. That might be enough for a potential buyer. After all, think about what might have happened if that arrow had struck a little lower!" And suddenly he's all cheer again, whipping the belt off the counter and replacing it with some paperwork and the paper sack containing Grant's potential purchases.

    He carefully writes out the story Grant has told him in his personal shorthand, along with his own thoughts on what abilities it might bring out of the belt when he enchants it. Then he writes down that Grant is signing over the belt willingly on another sheet of paper, this one on a carbon paper pad so there will be a pink flimsy behind for Fezziro's copy of the receipt. He marks an X and a blank for Grant's signature, and another for his own which he signs illegibly before proffering it to his customer.

    "A few more things. If you'd like to contact me about what you're buying at any time, I've left you my card in the bag. Stories evolve, so their abilities might change depending on how you use, care for, and value these trinkets of yours. With that in mind, do not use any of what you buy from me for violence. An object tainted by ill will, rash action, or strife will soak it up more readily than anything else and its purpose will be twisted. Hardly a risk with the little dragon, she's so mild and sad, but I don't want to hear of you maliciously hugging any feychild just to watch their skin blister. And be careful of the point of that nail." He says this all quickly, but precisely and sternly as well, laying out another receipt with much the same warning as well as the cost. Significantly reduced, taking into account the trade-in. Grant will have some pocket money left over it seems.

    And if Grant accepts all of this and signs his two receipts, then the transaction will be complete, apart form any other questions the youth might have.
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    Default Re: Inside 68: Dawn of a New Season (or two)

    [Rambling- Grant

    Grant nods. Most of that magic explanation went totally over his head.
    "The nail is just to keep Rey from accidentally hurting me. She can't help herself. I won't need it once she masters her powers." he assures the vendor. And he signs the papers just fine. After that he'll likely simply wish Fezziro a good day and head off.
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    Default Re: Inside 68: Dawn of a New Season (or two)

    [Industrial Strength Investigation]

    "Most of the shops that were hit dealt in some kind of magical or psionic stuff, is what I've heard, but I don't have the full lists; the boys from forensics should have them, they were the ones talking about it." The uniform gestures towards a trio of investigators taking photos inside the gaping hole where the building once was. "You might ask them."
    Why is it Plan A is always, "Get 'Em!" and Plan B is, "Cause as much collateral damage as possible"?

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    Default Re: Inside 68: Dawn of a New Season (or two)

    Golden Flock Orphanage

    Mo looks a the kids when they leave, frowning but approving before taking a glance over at the struggling angel and the man who had seemed to be protecting the children but was still rather untrustworthy. She felt way out of her depth, and even her slow mind knew she certainly was. All she did know was that she had made a little promise earlier that night that she had yet to fulfill. A promise that would certainly get her killed.

    "Hey, kid." Mo says as she steps forward between the angel and him. She gives the boy a warm smile and goes down to a knee, offering him her hand. "My name is Mo and I'm here to look after you. You're Zane, right? Just focus on me and we'll get you out of here. My partner and I would be happy to watch over you. Can't say I'd be much of a mom, but Hilda might fit that role better and she'd love to meet you. But first I need you to focus on me."

    Mysterious Shop - Rambling Gentlebeing

    The hood gets pulled back from Lum's head, showing the shopkeeper a scarf-covered golden-rod colored bug-girl. She stands a mere three and a half feet tall and has just one antennae that pokes out of her forehead. Her eyes are covered by goggles but the goggles can't hide that her right eye is just a large black scar. She starts humming, explaining things worldlessly as she reaches under her hand-knitted poncho to undo her tool harness so she can offer it to him. A short examination is probably more than enough to reveal that her beloved tools have been so heavily used that they're all but useless now. The screwdrivers are worn down to nubs, her plasma cutter is half melted and prone to sparking when activated, and her wrench set is too worn down to be of any use.

    Once she's handed it all over, she pulls out a small electronic pad and taps out a few words before showing him.

    CAN FIX? NEED GOOD TOOLS BAD. AM GOOD FIXR TO PAY WITH WERK? CAN PAY IN HUGZ 2.

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    Default Re: Inside 68: Dawn of a New Season (or two)

    [Industrial Strength Investigation]

    "Arright, then," Michalson says, closing his notebook. "Give me the address and I'll go there after talking to the forensics."

    Finding whoever did that isn't going to be easy, but figuring out what they're trying to do might help. At the very least the Intersection won't be surprised if they use it in the city.
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    Default Re: Inside 68: Dawn of a New Season (or two)

    Quote Originally Posted by Deathkeeper View Post
    [Rambling- Grant

    Grant nods. Most of that magic explanation went totally over his head.
    "The nail is just to keep Rey from accidentally hurting me. She can't help herself. I won't need it once she masters her powers." he assures the vendor. And he signs the papers just fine. After that he'll likely simply wish Fezziro a good day and head off.
    Rambling - Grant

    "Just remember young master! You came from your grandfather too. Without this belt we'd never have met, and I'll cherish that thought well. Come back any time to browse or buy!" Fezziro waves Grant away cheerfully.

    Quote Originally Posted by UncleWolf View Post
    Mysterious Shop - Rambling Gentlebeing

    The hood gets pulled back from Lum's head, showing the shopkeeper a scarf-covered golden-rod colored bug-girl. She stands a mere three and a half feet tall and has just one antennae that pokes out of her forehead. Her eyes are covered by goggles but the goggles can't hide that her right eye is just a large black scar. She starts humming, explaining things worldlessly as she reaches under her hand-knitted poncho to undo her tool harness so she can offer it to him. A short examination is probably more than enough to reveal that her beloved tools have been so heavily used that they're all but useless now. The screwdrivers are worn down to nubs, her plasma cutter is half melted and prone to sparking when activated, and her wrench set is too worn down to be of any use.

    Once she's handed it all over, she pulls out a small electronic pad and taps out a few words before showing him.

    CAN FIX? NEED GOOD TOOLS BAD. AM GOOD FIXR TO PAY WITH WERK? CAN PAY IN HUGZ 2.
    Rambling - Lum

    The shopkeeper looks sadly on the tools, his beaked mask dipping low as he studies each with great reverence. Before taking any out of the harness he takes up a small, white cloth and lays it across his cluttered counter so that none of the pieces can roll away unnoticed. The lenses on his mask's goggles bulge slightly as he holds each wrench, driver, and hand tool up to them, the magnification letting him see the hours and hours of wear, tarnish, and stress.

    "A custom job? And on my first day here no less." He swallows, reading the pad, "I have any number of things in the back of my cart that need fixing. The cart's wheels squeak and bind in wet weather..." He swallows again, running a finger across where one wrench's handle has been polished smooth by much handling.

    But damn, he knows he'll take this job. Even at a loss he would, though considering the state of her tools he suspects that he'd get more than his money's worth of labor out of her if he didn't specify a limit. Shaking his head, he gestures to the array of tools and belt, "It will have to be a set. If I work on one of them, I'll have to do them all. You can still add new tools to the set afterwards, even replace some of these. The logic's sound and fits with the narrative already here. I've got no end of parts I could salvage from other trade-ins and purchases I haven't gotten around to working with yet either, so that's no issue. But it would take me too long to work the metal myself. If you're going to pay in trade... could you help repair these as well, if I supplied parts and my own expertise?" A fixer fixing her own tools. Physician heal thyself? He can feel his fingers ache to begin working on this already. How unassuming, how polite a little being to wait so long for this. How much must she care if she'd have these tools repaired after so long, like an old pocket knife ground down to a toothpick after decades of sharpening and use. It's something you don't often see anymore, metal being so cheap and easy to replace now.

    A large narrative just leapt at him from nowhere, and his fingers twitch in anticipation. This is real weaving now, not scrounging in yard sales for a few knickknacks and passing them on as curios from the magical cart.
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    Default Re: Inside 68: Dawn of a New Season (or two)

    [The Docks - Angelic Postmortem]

    Calm Reed nods.

    "Then let's push our advantage. With luck, the loss of their toys has them off balance so we can finish them off."

    With that, she heads into the ruins of the inn.
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    Default Re: Inside 68: Dawn of a New Season (or two)

    Rambling Shop - Lum

    CAN FIX BROKEN LUMS BROKEN TOOLS? WILL FIX EVERYTHING 4 YOU.
    The bug girl asks before dropping her pad to her pocket so she can just bolt forward to hug the shopkeeper tight at the waist. She's humming happily and quickly, even nuzzling his waist and sniffling before she backs off so she can remove her goggles. She does indeed have only one eye, and one that had been tearing up quite a bit as she wipes it and her goggles clean.

    SRY. She types after she composes herself and puts her goggles back on. SMALL WKR NEEDZ HER TOOLS BADLY.
    Last edited by UncleWolf; 2019-03-24 at 03:37 PM.

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    Default Re: Inside 68: Dawn of a New Season (or two)

    Quote Originally Posted by UncleWolf View Post
    Rambling Shop - Lum

    CAN FIX BROKEN LUMS BROKEN TOOLS? WILL FIX EVERYTHING 4 YOU.
    The bug girl asks before dropping her pad to her pocket so she can just bolt forward to hug the shopkeeper tight at the waist. She's humming happily and quickly, even nuzzling his waist and sniffling before she backs off so she can remove her goggles. She does indeed have only one eye, and one that had been tearing up quite a bit as she wipes it and her goggles clean.

    SRY. She types after she composes herself and puts her goggles back on. SMALL WKR NEEDZ HER TOOLS BADLY.
    Rambling Shop - Lum

    Unable to help himself, Fezziro reaches out a pale hand and pats Lum on the head. He realizes it might be patronizing and will apologize if she takes it the wrong way, but his hand had a mind of its own in that moment.

    Clearing his throat in embarrassment, he gestures to the back of his cart, "For now, you can use some of mine to help me repair yours. They're all old, but each is special in its own way. I have a work surface in there, and we can get to work right away if you have the time." Another all nighter, he decides silently as he flips around his sign to closed. He'll have to haul some things out onto the counter to make room for himself and even a small guest/helper, and that will be only the beginning of the work. Already he feels his fingers ache and his breathing deepen in anticipation.
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    [Industrial Strength Investigation]

    The uniform rattles off an address in one of Inside's business districts, clear across town. He nods, and moves aside for Michalson.

    The forensics people seem largely engrossed in what they're doing as the detective approaches, but one of them looks up in time to see him. A young, somewhat eager elven woman; she nods at him.

    "Detective. We're not getting a whole lot here; whatever did this managed to pull it off pretty clean."
    Why is it Plan A is always, "Get 'Em!" and Plan B is, "Cause as much collateral damage as possible"?

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    Default Re: Inside 68: Dawn of a New Season (or two)

    [Industrial Strength Investigation]

    "Sure seems this way, which is why I'm thinkin' of another approach," Michalson says. "I need a list of what those stores peddled, as thorough as possible. Whoever pulled off this peel had something specific in mind."
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    Default Re: Inside 68: Dawn of a New Season (or two)

    Into the Dungeon

    Tethrik thinks about saying something witty, but he doesn't. Instead, he holds the skeleton in place and lets Lynx hack it to pieces. Clearly the cat creature has been holding back this whole time. Tethrik doesn't blame him. He's been holding back as well, saving his more potent abilities for something more dangerous than a few skeletons.
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    Default Re: Inside 68: Dawn of a New Season (or two)

    Quote Originally Posted by Slii Arhem View Post
    Rambling Shop - Lum

    Unable to help himself, Fezziro reaches out a pale hand and pats Lum on the head. He realizes it might be patronizing and will apologize if she takes it the wrong way, but his hand had a mind of its own in that moment.

    Clearing his throat in embarrassment, he gestures to the back of his cart, "For now, you can use some of mine to help me repair yours. They're all old, but each is special in its own way. I have a work surface in there, and we can get to work right away if you have the time." Another all nighter, he decides silently as he flips around his sign to closed. He'll have to haul some things out onto the counter to make room for himself and even a small guest/helper, and that will be only the beginning of the work. Already he feels his fingers ache and his breathing deepen in anticipation.
    Rambling Shop - Lum

    She doesn't take offense or seem bothered by the headpat, and even leans into it while humming cheerily.

    LUM WILL GET TO WERK THEN The now quite happy bug-girl types out since her worries have been soothed. Once inside the cart she pulls off her poncho and scarf, hanging them up and letting him see just how small the "Small Worker" was. And how broken. The half of her jaw that had been replaced with an ill-fitting organic mandible clacks slightly as she flexes it with a wince, and she removes her goggles as well to give herself a better view. All three pupils of her remaining eye dart around, focusing and analyzing anything and everything in the cart to judge state of repair, if it needs fixin', and how it all might work.

    Her cargo vest and "pants"(shorts that are too long on her body), have pockets that seem utterly packed with supplies as well, but also a snack as she takes a small stale gumball out from a pocket so she can start chewing on it. She freezes after a few bites though, frowning a bit before typing. HOW HELP MY TOOLS? BUNCH STUFF CALLING 4 LUM TO WERK ON HERE.

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    Into the Dungeon

    The skeleton's skull eventually caves in, and it goes limp. Lynx jumps up and whirls around to face one of the two remaining skeletons, which has slowly been making it's way toward the two adventurers. Lynx yells out an incantation, pointing the scythe at the skeleton, and black acid appears on it, eating away it's bones. The final skeleton starts trying to sneak up on Tethrik, but probably fails, as it's bones keep rattling.

    Tethrik may notice that Lynx's eyes have gone from blue with round pupils to red with slit pupils.
    After 2 years of silence, I reappear!

    Place your bets now, how long until I disappear again

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    Default Re: Inside 68: Dawn of a New Season (or two)

    Quote Originally Posted by UncleWolf View Post
    Rambling Shop - Lum

    She doesn't take offense or seem bothered by the headpat, and even leans into it while humming cheerily.

    LUM WILL GET TO WERK THEN The now quite happy bug-girl types out since her worries have been soothed. Once inside the cart she pulls off her poncho and scarf, hanging them up and letting him see just how small the "Small Worker" was. And how broken. The half of her jaw that had been replaced with an ill-fitting organic mandible clacks slightly as she flexes it with a wince, and she removes her goggles as well to give herself a better view. All three pupils of her remaining eye dart around, focusing and analyzing anything and everything in the cart to judge state of repair, if it needs fixin', and how it all might work.

    Her cargo vest and "pants"(shorts that are too long on her body), have pockets that seem utterly packed with supplies as well, but also a snack as she takes a small stale gumball out from a pocket so she can start chewing on it. She freezes after a few bites though, frowning a bit before typing. HOW HELP MY TOOLS? BUNCH STUFF CALLING 4 LUM TO WERK ON HERE.
    Rambling Shop - Lum

    "These may be calling to you, Lum, but they're not broken. I wouldn't fix them hastily any more than I could bring myself to fix you." Damaged, worn, but not broken. Never broken. It's as plain to him as the beak on his face, "Some of them are damaged beyond usefulness, and those I will have you help with. But in order to help them, we must first help your tools." Grabbing a banker's box out from under his small collapsing work shelf, he hauls it up to the shelf with a grunt and some effort. It's full of old, second-hand tools that they can scavenge parts from or use in the fixing.

    "Now, what's most useful in first? Which of these would help fix the others first?" Because if the tools fix each other, that will only increase the scope of the story here.
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    [Industrial Strength Investigation]

    "Oh, that I can tell you without the full list: with one exception, they all specialized in various forms of magical and psionic protection. The gamut ranges from potion ingredients and spell components to actual armor pieces, and psi-crystals and artifacts that could provide much of the same effects." She takes a step over to where a small bag is leaning against the hole's wall and kneels down, rummaging through it for a moment, before coming up with a file folder, which she hands to Michalson as she straightens up. "There's the full list, since you said you wanted it."

    The file is somewhat thick; inside, Michalson will find list after list of stolen goods, each at least several pages long, catalogued by the each shop, as one would probably expect. The elf is correct; a brief skim of each list shows a plethora of protective items, with a smattering of other utilitarian magical and psionic goods. The shops seemed unconnected at first glance, because they all sell different types of protective items and reagents, some, in fact, with seemingly contradictory effects, depending on what sort of magic or psionic power the user is trying to use. Most of them also tend to market themselves as more "general"-type magical or psionic suppliers, despite the obvious bend towards the protective. The one outlier is the rather large shop that sold both magical and cybernetic items; its list is easily three times the size of every other shop individually, and it might be helpful to consult with someone who's more versed in the technological end of things in order to figure out the significance of what was stolen from them.
    Why is it Plan A is always, "Get 'Em!" and Plan B is, "Cause as much collateral damage as possible"?

  30. - Top - End - #30
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    Default Re: Inside 68: Dawn of a New Season (or two)

    [Industrial Strength Investigation]

    "Protection, huh? I don't know what they were doin'... but those berks have somethin' in mind. And tech, too. I'll need someone's help to get to the dark o' that," Michalson says, leafing through the list.
    My FFRP characters. Avatar by Ashen Lilies. Sigatars by Ashen Lilies, Gullara and Purple Eagle.
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