[Nexus] Home 6: Jiggity Jig

[Devixer]

[Siberian Tundra]

Boris mostly has his eyes on his GPS and on the surrounding forest. The two won't see any movement for a while.

The tracks grow more fresh by the hour. It seems that despite the demon having a long head start, they're catching up to it.

[Murkus]

Siberian Motel

Cornelia urges George onward, a rather ugly smile growing on her already scarred face. They'd catch it now. She'd kill it for Boris, too, and with all the eagerness that comes from devotion like hers.

[Devixer]

[Siberian Tundra]

Boris is frequently checking the direction of the track with his GPS. Soon, he starts growing frantic, and not because of the demon. "Nyet," he says in a soft and unusually scared voice. Then to Cornelia, "How fast can George go?"

[Murkus]

Siberian Tundra

In answer, Cornelia digs her heels into George's thighs, and he speeds up drastically. The horse is now tearing across the frozen fields at what appears to be top speed.

The gunslinger turns her head to look at the sniper. "Somethin' wrong?"

[Devixer]

[Siberian Tundra]

Boris nods, keeping his eyes on the screen in his hand. "If I'm right, this thing is heading to a small town. We need to get to it before it gets to those people."

The large demon tracks are now joined by about six smaller sets of tracks, all belonging to canine creatures.

[Murkus]

Siberian Tundra

Cornelia frowns and turns back to the trail, forcing George to keep his speed. The old horse sounds a little winded.

The gunslinger, meanwhile, keeps alert. Watching for any sign of the creature and his new friends.

[Devixer]

[Siberian Tundra]

It doesn't take long for the creatures to be spotted nearby, in between a grouping of trees. There's the large humanoid creature seen on the video, as expected. The others are pretty clearly some sort of dog, except with burning skin and flesh that has rotted in several places. The group is going at a fairly slow pace.

They haven't seen the trio yet, and Boris puts a hand on the stock of his assault rifle (an AS Val.)

[Murkus]

Siberian Tundra

If Boris had been riding with a soldier, Cornelia might've decided to use stealth to their advantage.

But this is Cornelia we're talking about. The gunslinger forces George to speed up, launching into a series of curses in some low tongue and punctuating her words with the dry crack of gunfire. All six shots get emptied toward the demon, aimed around his head and neck. It's possible one or two will miss entirely, or perhaps end up as glancing blows.

[Devixer]

[Siberian Tundra]

Two of the shots miss entirely, whizzing by the demon's head. The other four hit it, causing some small wounds. It turns around and gives an unearthly scream. The hounds also turn around, rushing at them.

Boris ends up cursing under his breath as he gets his Val, flipping the safety on. A few shots are fired at a hound, severely slowing it. The rifle is much quieter than Cornelia's revolver.

[Murkus]

Siberian Tundra

Cornelia commences reloading instantly, hooking George to the left as her fingers work violently. If her magical rounds couldn't do the job, perhaps Nelia would have to aim for something more vital. She'll let Boris deal with the dogs.

The gunslinger opens fire again with only four shells in the cylinder, trying to put them in the creature's eyes. Given she has four, there's twice the chance she'll be able to shoot both eyes out.

[Devixer]

[Siberian Tundra]

The demon loses both of it's eyes, giving a painful shriek. Somehow, though, it's only stunned for a few seconds, before resuming its hostile movements, taking on a low crouch. Fortunately for Cornelia, the creature is blind, but it starts to sniff the area.

Boris hops off of George, rolling with the presumably rough landing. He fires two more shots at the wounded dog, and it falls. Then he exchanges the assault rifle for his Saiga 12. The hounds quickly surround the sniper, with a constant growl.

[UncleWolf]

It takes a while before she's finally had her cry out, but finally, she composes herself enough for a rush of questions to come pouring out. "Why did this happen to me? Is it going to happen again? Am I cursed?" Then, one she hadn't thought to ask before. "Who are you?" And then, suddenly, one of more immediate necessity as she sniffles. "Do you have a handkerchief?"

Wolfy's Realm

Wolfy rolls his wrist slowly and offers her the handkerchief that appears. "In reverse order: Yes, I do. I'm Wolfy, a God. No, I don't think you're exactly cursed*. Yes, it'll happen constantly, but over time you'll get used to it and might even enjoy it, and finally, I don't know why. It just happens to people sometimes."

*Unless she really is cursed, then the answer is yes, as he'd be able to tell that.

[happyturtle]

Wolfy's Realm

Lorraine blows her nose ungracefully, then tries to take in all this information. And no, she's not cursed. The wolf was part of her, all of her life, it just took the Blood Moon to call her out.

"Why are you helping me?" she asks.

[UncleWolf]

Wolfy's Realm

Wolfy reaches out to squeeze her shoulder gently. "Because people should be helped when they need it. And you seemed like you needed it. Didn't want the aliens to run tests on you that might be...unsavory."

[happyturtle]

Wolfy's Realm

Oh yeah. The aliens. "I think they wanted to help. To try and change me back. But you think I'm always going to be this way? That I shouldn't try to change?"

[UncleWolf]

Wolfy's Realm

Wolfy is quiet for a moment as he thinks. "I think you'll adapt to it, as it adapts to you. It does change over time as your body and mind get used to the new patterns. That said, it is possible to get rid of it, but it's as much a part of you as your liver or heart. It could be dangerous."

[happyturtle]

Wolfy's Realm

Lorraine thinks about it, and his words feel true. There was a lot that was scary about what had happened, but maybe... maybe it was scary the way entering puberty had been scary. Maybe it was just a change that was built in to her.

"I miss being able to smell," she finally says.

[Chaotic Bob]

[Wolfy's Realm]

Karaglen sleeps on the bed she has been granted, entirely unaware of Wolfy and his companion some distance away.
Likely because of the nightmares and doubts and confusion twisting through her mind, taking advantage of her sleeping state to roam free from her subconscious.

Nightmares full of hate and violence, terror and cruel vengeance.
Doubts to her purpose, her ability to accomplish it, the justification in her choices.
Confusion as to why this has to happen. Why any of this has chosen to be upon her.

All a roiling mass of conflicting thoughts and troubles, happily twining around each other in a painful mess of thoughts and images, that she'll hope to forget upon waking.
But she won't forget. She won't forget the memories of what she's done, her inability to understand or accept what is happening.

Under the blankets, the little girl whimpers, curling up and clenching her stuffed snake ever tighter.
This rest was not to be a pleasant one.

[Morty]

[The Nest]

The D'Lattu leads you a set of stairs to your right.

After a bit, you see a small basement, with more stairs going down. There are also signs of construction, and several vampires are currently working on extending a tunnel.

In addition, there's a guy standing there, but he's covered in deadtime, so it's hard to make out details.

There are also five vaguely canine creatures, covered in dark red quills, with a stingers on the ends of their tails, and a human mouth on their shoulders (Several of them also have human arms coming from the sides of their chests), laying on the ground in front of him.

The goblins look around, judging the quality of the construction. The canine creatures creep them out a little but again, they've been in the Nexus for some time. I see some construction work has already started.

[Lady Serpentine]

[The Nest]

"Some, yes. However, while the vampires don't tire, they don't have much experience in this kind of work, either."

[Kyrian]

======

EE



Aeryn is kissed!
And quickly finds herself kissing back happily, wrapping her arms around Mike and seeming quite...content.

See, now wasn't that a better idea?

[Morty]

[The Nest]

I can imagine. We'll need to explore the place a bit to see what needs to be done. Could we also see the blueprints, if you have them?

[Lady Serpentine]

"Certainly. I believe Rael has them in his workshop, so if you'll follow me..."

The D'Lattu will proceed down the stairs on the far side of the room.

[Morty]

[The Nest]

Krugzim and his entourage follow the D'Lattu.

[Lady Serpentine]

[The Nest]

After going about 500 feet down a narrow, twisting, staircase, the group will emerge in a massive domed chamber. The ceiling is at least on a level with the basement. It's probably about the same across.

There are all manner of cages attached the walls, filled with exotic creatures. Near the door, one of the canines from above is strapped to a table, whimpering.

A figure in blue cloak with the hood up points to a large stack of papers on a nearby desk. He is standing over the table. Next to all this, two D'lattu are being tattooed by a third. The tattoo appears to be a drop of blood turning into a bird, and is on their throats. (I forgot to mention it, but the one that's escorting you down has the same tattoo, in the same place, if you're watching carefully).

The plans show extensions to at least a mile down, and in a quarter mile radius.

[Morty]

[The Nest]

This will take a while and cost a lot. It will be difficult to transport the materials down here, too, Krugzim announces after studying the plans. The other goblins are looking around nervously; this place is creeping them out a little.

[Lady Serpentine]

A blue-black serpent, with leathery wings, and a human head, swoops down from one of the cages in the ceiling. It is surrounded by a corona of shadows, in which... things seem to be moving.

It says "I believe I can help with the materials".

[Morty]

[The Nest]

This place just keeps on giving in terms of creepiness.
Err... how exactly would you help?

[Lady Serpentine]

[The Nest]

"I can transport things. Without having to move through the same space. Thus, I could walk them across a flat plain, rather than stairs. I could also just take it through the walls, though then I'd have to take all of it on my own.

You get the sense he'd rather not have to do that, though it's hard to tell why.

[Morty]

[The Nest]

How much can you carry? We'll need a lot of wood, stone and steel for such an undertaking, Krugzim asks, his tone once more professional.