Inside 58

[happyturtle]

Flag of Inside, flown over all Remnant and Government Installations

Current Events: ((??? PM me to have your events added.))

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

But what is this place, you ask?

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

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

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


Rules

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Rules

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

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

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

4:Remnant. Please remember when doing any plots or large events, that even though it has it's own thread, Remnant - 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. If you're looking for amenities for people who lack hands or just feel like bucking the norm trot on by and enjoy some pony-style hospitality.

Locations

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The Red Zones (Player: Rebonack)

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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 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.

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: Harnel, 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: Kid Kris, 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 Kid Kris may not always check the thread.))

MagMart (Player: Lord Magtok, Blue Zone)

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

Here you can find everything from curtains to carpets, macaroni to monkeys on motorcycles, groceries to zombies. The staff is always happy to help (or else), and if you aren't entirely satisfied with your shopping experience, you can pay a small fee to watch the MagMart employee of your choosing get fired out the MagMart complimentary employee morale cannon.

Magnificus Theater (Player: ThePhantom, Red Zone)

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

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

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

MERC Office (Player: Morty, Grey Zone)

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

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

Sable Spire (Player: Darkcomet, Blue Zone)

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

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

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

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

The The Temperance Teahouse (Grey Zone) Owned by Artemis

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

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

[Restaurant]

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

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

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

Menu

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Drinks

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

Food

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

Sweets

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

[North Wing]

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

[Garden]

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

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

NPCs

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

OOC: Please Read. Important information.

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

Needle and Thread (Blue Zone, Player: Artemis97)

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

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

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

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

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


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



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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

NPCs thus far:

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

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

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

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

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

The Swordfish (Player: Ghar, Grey Zone)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Please PM Earl of Purple before entering this location.

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

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

Warwick Works (player: happyturtle, Grey Zone)

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

W
Warwick Works

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

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

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

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

RULES (OOC):

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Inside's Defenses, Remnant, and The Council

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Defenses

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

Remnant

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As stated before, Remnant 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 consists of hundreds of men, women, 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 Remnant 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. Remnant 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 Remnants 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 Remnants 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 Remnants can be godmodded to be killed on occasion, but if it happens too fast, too often, one of the Remnant players may step in and RP it out. Once again, please post in OOC if you plan on killing a Remnant 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 Remnant NPC/PC
-Stealing Identities
-Destroying Remnant facilities

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

Council

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The Council is the "ruling" body of Inside. A small group of individuals reside on it, and decide Inside Policy. People can go here for diplomatic relations, trials, or other activities that may concern dealing with an actual government instead of a police force or army. Usually these scenes deadtime long before anything of consequence is decided. Sort of like a real government.

[5a Violista]

Av. del Sol
Grey Zone

Av. del Sol is a nice large street. Half-finished houses made of bricks and mortar, tin roofs, cobblestone-and-dirt roads. People bustling around. Giant yucca plants and palm trees and cacti growing along the side of the road, with a mango tree visible down there. Mismatched sidewalks all the way down. No doors into houses - only gates where you have to clap to go in. Banana trees full of spiders. Hungry dogs roving the streets, looking for some morsels thrown out. People pulling carts or driving motorcycles down the street, selling things and delivering other things. The sky is cloudy; it always is at this time in the afternoon, just between lunch and dinner. If anyone had to guess, they'd say it looks like it would rain - a nice, warm, tropical rain which will only last ten to fifteen minutes before passing.

A man named Breno Cullen fits in perfectly into this kind of street. To him, there's a hint of wildness and something half-finished. Handsome, or beauty, are words that can describe them both. Like nearly everything here in Inside, there's also a darkness hidden in him. Like the clouds that cover the sun, there's something slightly dark beneath all this beauty and prestige.

No, it's not the way he combs his hair. It might actually be his flawless teeth. Nobody has teeth that good.


Elsewhere...
[The Old Mill]

Burn. Go up in flames. Ablaze. Alight. Burn and smoke.

The Old Mill finally caught fire - and it was no natural causes. It was an enormous explosion due to none other than the grey lady, Maria. The woman who gloats at these burnings and explosions.

Luckily, there was nobody in there when the first explosion shook the neighborhood. At least, as far as anybody knows. There might have been someone locked away in the depths of the basement of the mill, beneath that secret passageway...but nobody knew about it so it doesn't matter. There was only financial lost - millions lost, throwing the owning family (an old man with his wife, whose children already moved out of the house) into poverty, having lost everything.

And Maria laughs.

[Murkus]

[Quarantine]

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More digging around in Garrett's head. He appreciates what they've done, but at this point any pretense of 'but you neeeeeeed iiiiiiiiit' can be dropped. He won't die if he doesn't let them peel his noggin open again.

Then again, he didn't really 'let them' last time.

Garrett shifts his weight onto his other leg, uncomfortable is as uncomfortable does. He liked to think he was smart, but even normal people in this timeline were geniuses compared to him, and the people at Elexxion were even more clever than that. He knew how he made his empathy work, but even that didn't always go the way it should, and he didn't know the cause or the source. The discovery that his 'magic' was just accidental, unexplained science had been quite a shock to younger Garrett.

But if he admitted that he didn't know, what would they think of him? And how much power would he be giving them? All this "we're only helping you" business sounds an awful lot like a cult. Cults and powerful businesses are a bad mix, but just saying no and walking away would be hilariously stupid, even if it was an option.

He needed a bargaining chip, but he had nothing. Except, perhaps, for himself?

"What do you mean, 'deal with it', sir?"

"Give you control," the Executive says, raising his hand and tightening it into a fist as if to illustrate his point. His leathery hand groans and pops gently as he does so. Even the slightest motions of his body refract light differently, his business attire glinting like a thousand mirrors.

[Gnrlshrimp]

Zaff's Magical College

Isaac whirls, one hand still covering his nether region.
"Trying to investigate a previous incident in which someone shot Merissa out of a cannon, sir. Also trying to deal with a curse which vanished our clothes that came from a certain imp."
If the imp is still there, he'll also silently mouth "Please get rid of it."

The imp is indeed still there.

"Yeah, that was my doing. You non-infernal people are kinda hard to understand at times. But I made up for it by teleporting them back here, so we're all square, right?" The imp asks, hovering a little way above Isaac's head.

[TechnoScrabble]

[Quarantine]



"Give you control," the Executive says, raising his hand and tightening it into a fist as if to illustrate his point. His leathery hand groans and pops gently as he does so. Even the slightest motions of his body refract light differently, his business attire glinting like a thousand mirrors.

Oh man, that sounds really, really villain-who-thinks-he's-the-hero-y!

Garrett's mouth dries out a bit more as he does his best to make sure his discomfort doesn't show. As far as Garrett-hell, as far as anyone who doesn't have this sort of tech knows, this man could be some sort of horrid alien god or primeval force. Those sorts of things do tend to want to 'evolve' people.

Then, again, what risks are Garrett willing to take if it means no longer being a slave to his own power?

Garrett blinks and briefly purses his lips as he nods, quietly swallowing nervously, a split-second worried glance cast at Varienne.

[Slii Arhem]

[Trick's Investigations]

As the spell begins to fade, Trick mouths the words "thank you" to the spirit, hoping he saw at least that before he left.

She wipes her tail on the carpeted floor as she carefully closes the tome and puts it back into her belt sheath for it, sealing away its power once more. That had been fairly enlightening, certainly. It was clear that the little girl was special, certainly; the fact that she looks just like Trick, and the dead heart definitely go there. Chances are, he was killed by her, the cry of distress from earlier having killed him. What a way to go.

So this, of course, begs the questions: where is this office located? What's so special about the child(ren)? This is a problem, certainly, but there's a way to gather answers. There's always a way. Trick reaches down to the corpse, rifling through his pockets for whatever he'd been carrying. Like a good adventurer, she hopes there's some kind of monetary reward at the end of this, but she's not optimistic about it.

Trick's Investigations

She doesn't find any work ID on his body, but he brought his wallet and cell phone with him as well as his keys which have an address engraved keychain on them. Apparently the man, who's named Frank Samson, lived on 13A Maple Street.

And if she's not too picky about what she gives to his next of kin, if there is any, then she can pocket the last paycheck worth of cash he had on him for her trouble.

The imp is indeed still there.

"Yeah, that was my doing. You non-infernal people are kinda hard to understand at times. But I made up for it by teleporting them back here, so we're all square, right?" The imp asks, hovering a little way above Isaac's head.

Zaff's Magical College

Merissa sighs, trying to preserve as much modesty as possible, "A few of my dorm-mates dosed me with sleeping potion, cast featherfall on me, and shot me out of the bombard on the roof as a practical joke, sir. I landed on Isaac in a park and it's been a lot of trouble since then. They cast at least one more long distance curse on us while we were trying to get back here, and I wouldn't be surprised if they'd summoned the imp to harass us while they went to sleep. In order to break the curse, so it says, we have to touch a lot of clothing until it overloads."

The teacher mutters to himself under his breath, completely unfussed about the description of the night's events. Apparently, he's heard much worse during his tenure here.

"I told them we shouldn't have the cannon unguarded on top of the dormitory, but apparently having it next to the arcanoscopes is far too much to ask for those fusspot astrologers. Ahem. Is what she said true, young man?" Normally at this point a guilty student would corroborate their partner's story to get out of trouble, so with a subtle crook of his finger, the teacher casts a truth identifying spell that will make the air glow a dull red if Isaac is telling a lie.

[Deathkeeper]

Zaff's Magical College

Isaac frowns at the imp. He's had enough of its chatter; at this point it's another stupid magic spell waiting to happen. He's honestly surprised it did such a decent job with the teleport.
"Saving us the trip here was only worth anything because you put us in a position that made walking here unpleasant so no, I would not say you're 'squared off.' Of course, your first bit of 'help' was anything but, so don't feel pressured to even the score. Ever." he says before turning to the adult in the room, his expression going back from scowling to respectful.
"I've no magic expertise and I wasn't there for when they did whatever to Merissa, but that's what happened as far as I can tell." he says. Nothing about that was the least bit untrue from Isaac's perspective.

[Gnrlshrimp]

[Zaff's Magical College]

"I dunno. Based on the day you've been having, it sounds like you'd have had at least three more disasters happen in the time it'd take you to walk back here. I reckon I saved you a lot of bother! Oh, sure, you don't like my silly curse and you're going to have to poke a few clothes to make yours come back, but that's no big deal, right?" Why, this little imp has helped them so much, they should be thanking him!

Twisted little creature, isn't he? He seems dead set on insisting he's being helpful.

"Anyway, I'm pretty sure no one summoned me here. There'd probably have been some pact formed. You know, their first-born children in exchange for my harmless prank, that sort of thing. And I think I'd remember if I was going to get paid with a bunch of tasty baby-souls."

[Morcleon]

[Below the TV Tower]

"It's complicated," Mikani admits with a grin. "And don't even ask about what that does to geneology..."

She giggles, squaring her shoudlers. "I'm ready. Let's go!"

[Below the TV Tower]

Hikari chuckles and nods. "Yeah... lead on!"

((Shift to HALO?))

[Gullara]

The hug is quite brief, and Agatha ceases the hug when Becca requests her to.
Ok! Again, thanks a lot!

[Pokémon Park]

"Yeah sure, um..." Becca looks around uncertainly, but soon regains her composure. "Right, okay. First thing, I'm gonna catch a Heracross. There, like, big bugs with big ol' horns. There's a bunch of them where I come from. They live in trees. Like these ones." Becca points at one of the nearby trees.

[Slii Arhem]

The imp is indeed still there.

"Yeah, that was my doing. You non-infernal people are kinda hard to understand at times. But I made up for it by teleporting them back here, so we're all square, right?" The imp asks, hovering a little way above Isaac's head.

Zaff's Magical College

"The teachers here don't take kindly to anything interfering with the learning of their charges, imp. You can continue to press your luck and see where it gets you, or you can do the sensible thing and leave here while you still have the chance to do so without reprisal." The teacher says coldly, folding his arms and tapping his foot impatiently.

"And as for you two, if what you said is true then there will be a formal investigation launched into this malicious happenstance, and for now you should accompany me to the theater club's offices. I have the pass phrase for them, and they store spare costumes there. We should be able to fix things in a hurry.

Merissa's only response is a somber, tiny, "Yes, sir."

[Ionbound]

[A Nice, Vampire-Friendly Restaurant]

Noelle is here, very likely with Aerith on a date. She smiles, and says to her girlfriend, "So, like the place?"

[Arkhosia]

[Pokémon Park]

"Yeah sure, um..." Becca looks around uncertainly, but soon regains her composure. "Right, okay. First thing, I'm gonna catch a Heracross. There, like, big bugs with big ol' horns. There's a bunch of them where I come from. They live in trees. Like these ones." Becca points at one of the nearby trees.

Agatha nods, listening to her new mentor with curiosity and eagerness.

[A Nice, Vampire-Friendly Restaurant]

Noelle is here, very likely with Aerith on a date. She smiles, and says to her girlfriend, "So, like the place?"

"Yep!"
Aerith replies as the two presumably sit down, grinning and attempting to place an arm on Noelle's shoulder.

[Ionbound]

"Yep!"
Aerith replies as the two presumably sit down, grinning and attempting to place an arm on Noelle's shoulder.

Noelle smiles as the arm is placed on her shoulder, and tries to kiss Aerith on the cheek before saying as they sit, "I'm glad you like it here."

[Arkhosia]

Noelle smiles as the arm is placed on her shoulder, and tries to kiss Aerith on the cheek before saying as they sit, "I'm glad you like it here."

Kiss success!
Aerith grins still.
Same here, obviously.

[Recaiden]

[A Nice, Vampire-Friendly Restaurant]

There comes a crash as something flies through a window. Shards of glass fly onto the floor and all over the decorative plant near the window's edge. A waitress shrieks and drops a tray of drinks that was artfully balanced on her head.

Of slightly more concern is the little device that made the crash, a shoddy-looking contraption of wires and metal and glass vials, now beeping merrily, faster and faster and faster.
Oh. It rather looks like a bomb, doesn't it?

[Ionbound]

[A Nice, Vampire-Friendly Restaurant]

Noelle takes one look at the thing and shouts, "Aerith! Bomb!" before flipping their table onto the thing and crashing onto it, hoping to direct the blast away from herself and Aerith.

[Deathkeeper]

Zaff's Magical College

"The teachers here don't take kindly to anything interfering with the learning of their charges, imp. You can continue to press your luck and see where it gets you, or you can do the sensible thing and leave here while you still have the chance to do so without reprisal." The teacher says coldly, folding his arms and tapping his foot impatiently.

"And as for you two, if what you said is true then there will be a formal investigation launched into this malicious happenstance, and for now you should accompany me to the theater club's offices. I have the pass phrase for them, and they store spare costumes there. We should be able to fix things in a hurry.

Merissa's only response is a somber, tiny, "Yes, sir."

Zaff's Magical College

Isaac nods with a hint of a polite smile. "Yes, sir. Thank you sir." Right now this teacher has only been fair and helpful, if a bit intimidating, but then again once this is all done the worst that's likely to happen is he gets kicked out unless Isaac does something really stupid. This guy doesn't have the same degree of control as he has on a student like Merissa.

[Arkhosia]

[A Nice, Vampire-Friendly Restaurant]

Noelle takes one look at the thing and shouts, "Aerith! Bomb!" before flipping their table onto the thing and crashing onto it, hoping to direct the blast away from herself and Aerith.

Aerith speedily takes cover!

[Recaiden]

[Restaurant]

The explosive goes off, sending fragments of metal and wood flying through the room, followed by a wave of flame.
Screams and cries of pain follow shortly thereafter. Meals are ruined, but Aerith and Noelle are pretty okay. Thanks to their warning, so are most of the other people. That manager's arm doesn't look good.

"True death to the undead and all who support them!" A shout from outside the broken window, followed by running footsteps.

[Ionbound]

[Restaurant]

Noelle, ears ringing from the blast, dizzily gets to her feet and mutters, "What...The hell just happened..."

[Arkhosia]

[Restaurant]

Noelle, ears ringing from the blast, dizzily gets to her feet and mutters, "What...The hell just happened..."

Aerith springs to her feet, ears ringing and slightly disoriented, but when she hears the cry from the attacker, her face contort into a furious snarl.
All I wanted was to have a nice, peaceful date with my girlfriend, and you had to ruin it all with your godsdamned racism!
And so, drawing a flintlock pistol (or grabbing it from where it was stored after being confiscated), she darts out of the restaurant in pursuit!

[Recaiden]

Aerith may see, as she dives past the burning decorative plant, a young human man with spiked hair running down the lane, diving into an alley.

[Halae]

Trick's Investigations

She doesn't find any work ID on his body, but he brought his wallet and cell phone with him as well as his keys which have an address engraved keychain on them. Apparently the man, who's named Frank Samson, lived on 13A Maple Street.

And if she's not too picky about what she gives to his next of kin, if there is any, then she can pocket the last paycheck worth of cash he had on him for her trouble.

[Trick's Investigations]

Trick, true to her adventurer roots, will pocket the paycheck. It's not completely greed - if she's going to be forced to care for a doom baby for a bit, she wants some compensation, as well as enough money to provide for the child. Food isn't free, after all, even for babies.

The things collected, Trick will head back into her office, where Teluvin will have been trying to put the baby to sleep, being very motherly and caring. Has anything of note changed?

[Gullara]

Agatha nods, listening to her new mentor with curiosity and eagerness.

[Pokémon Park]

"Okay, so. The best way to get a Heracross out of a tree is by getting a Pokemon to smack it really hard. So that's Clawra's job." Becca turns toward the Pokemon. "Okay, Clawra. Give the next tree a good smack." The Corphish clicks her claws together and them smashes them into the tree.

And odd, pine cone shaped Pokemon drops between the Corphish and her trainer. Becca catches one glimpse of the Pokemon and dives away from it. "Watch out!" She shouts as it explodes violently.

[Arkhosia]

[Pokémon Park]

"Okay, so. The best way to get a Heracross out of a tree is by getting a Pokemon to smack it really hard. So that's Clawra's job." Becca turns toward the Pokemon. "Okay, Clawra. Give the next tree a good smack." The Corphish clicks her claws together and them smashes them into the tree.

And odd, pine cone shaped Pokemon drops between the Corphish and her trainer. Becca catches one glimpse of the Pokemon and dives away from it. "Watch out!" She shouts as it explodes violently.

Agatha follows Becca's lead, diving away (and landing next to her as well), shielding Félix from the explosion
What the heck was that?
The girl inquires

[Murkus]

[Quarantine]

Oh man, that sounds really, really villain-who-thinks-he's-the-hero-y!

Garrett's mouth dries out a bit more as he does his best to make sure his discomfort doesn't show. As far as Garrett-hell, as far as anyone who doesn't have this sort of tech knows, this man could be some sort of horrid alien god or primeval force. Those sorts of things do tend to want to 'evolve' people.

Then, again, what risks are Garrett willing to take if it means no longer being a slave to his own power?

Garrett blinks and briefly purses his lips as he nods, quietly swallowing nervously, a split-second worried glance cast at Varienne.

Varienne just shrugs and makes a quick gesture of confusion. Don't look at me, bucky.

"We're going to have to go through some tests. None of them will be painful, or particularly invasive. Rest assured, Garrett, we are trying to help. As I'm sure you've been told, your gift is a mystery to us. It's our job to understand."

[Zefir]

[Pokémon Park]

Vis, the young boy who was part of the tournament a while back, goes around in the forest. He didn't wear the armor he got during the tournament, becasue it was just for the show. So he now heads around in jeans and shirt, a backpack on his back and a little yellow/blue spider on his head.

"Damn! Why did we end up in a forest? I don't think we can cath any fire pokemon here." And then he hears the explosion.
"Huh? what was that?" he says and heads for the source of the noise.

[The Bushranger]

((*Flails at life. And holidays.*))

[Somewhere]

...fighting, combat, or adventure. What else would it mean, exactly?
Sophia inquires

"...please tell me you're pulling my leg." Shrike looks to be a mixture of amused and stunned, perhaps. "Or do I need to tell you about the hummingbirds and the mumble-bees?"

***

[Below the TV Tower]

Hikari chuckles and nods. "Yeah... lead on!"

((Shift to HALO?))

Mikani giggles, and turns to lead the way. To HALO!

[Morcleon]

[Below the TV Tower]

Mikani giggles, and turns to lead the way. To HALO!

And Hikari follows! To HALO!