[Nexus] Mallside I: You Do Not Know the Power of the Mallside
Mallside is the biggest shopping center in Nexus, containing more stores than you count, which range from all purpose marts to outlets catering to specific needs. The only Nexus mall worth going to also contains a trendy two level food court that sells items ready to go on the first floor, and provides a more formal and relaxed environment on the second. As if all that were not enough, it boasts a state of the art arcade (the Neon Coliseum) as well, which is complete with its own laser tag arena!
The tall, sleek modern building stands proud in the center of Market Street, its doors open to all comers, whether they're browsers, customers, or just people who want to enjoy the mall's atmosphere.
Stores and Locations
Spoiler
Stores
Azik's Enchantments (Player: Harnel)
Spoiler
A creature stands outside the shop, 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 mall's walkway, his longcoat shifting with his movement. As it moves, 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 takes the time to call out to those passing 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.
Barkhouse Bestiary (Player: Rebonack)
Spoiler
Over the entrance hangs a sign with a silhouette of a dog baying at the name. 'Barkhouse Bestiary'. Given the unusual wooden make of the store this appears to be a double-pun.
It looks like a pet store!
The architecture is quite different from the rest of the mall. In fact, it looks almost like the shop had been grown out of living wood inside of its room instead of assembled. All smooth, organic curves here. Cages and aquariums abound, holding all fashion of different animals.
The store itself is split into areas holding animals supplies and the animals themselves. Small mammals, fish, birds, reptiles, even giant spiders! This place has it all!
Another sign inside the store states that they take custom orders.
Lando the Jediwizard and Divaonar the starspawn both work here. Lando is an elderly bearded man in a brown jedi robe and a frumpy wizard hat. Divaonar is a half-drow boy (most of the time) usually dressed in fairly modern apparel.
Bunny Ears Boutique (Player: Lil Shiro)
Spoiler
As you enter past the green, fluffy entrance of the outlet, you enter a heavily forest themed store. Heck, the place even faintly smells of sap. The sound of running water is coming from somewhere in the distance. Once you get over the fact that you aren't in kansas anymore, you will notice two delightfully fashionable and pretty Vieras waving in your direction, question whether or not you are in need of in need of assistance. They could be sisters, from the looks of them. That's because they are. Eldena and Celia are their names, and they have brought their wonderful fashion sense to Mallside just for you.
The store is full of various clothing items, all in the latest fashions (or the oldest depending on your choice of outfit). We must not forget all the jewelry out on display at the cashier's counter.
The fashion world is now at your disposal.
Cecily's Millinery und Hat Magic (Players: Happyturtle or Vampire Rot)
Spoiler
A little hut on chicken legs wanders the mall when its bored, but will set itself down for customers. On the wall of the hut, is a large sign:
Cecily's Millinery und Hat Magic
City uf Inside
Market Schtreets
Mallside
Look for de schop on chicken legs!
Once inside, you will see hats. Hats everywhere! A sample of her inventory can be seen here. Or you can google Ascot hat if you want to have your mind blown. O.o
All of Cecily's hats come standard with a treatment that repels water, blocks stains, and resists ordinary damage. Of course extraordinary attempts to destroy them will probably succeed, but they should emerge from a standard random encounter unscathed.
Cost is x gold per hat, plus y gold per enchantment added. Very special hats may require special pricing, such as quests.
Electronics Aslyum (Player: Lost Deep)
Spoiler
Saying that this place is full of tech items is like saying a cave is full of rock: The bulk of the space is taken up by shelves of tech items, and the occasional help terminal. On the floor is a marked graph system, permitting anyone to find an object easily by going to that point. There are really two halves to the store: a “General electronics” half and a “video games” half.
The electronics half has cell phones, computers, lap tops, monitors, and almost every wire or additional doodad that could be used with such items. For those wishing to construct a computer themselves (or add on to a current one) video cards, motherboards, RAM, and everything else you could need can be bought here. Printers, scanners, cameras, and software are also on this side of the store. There are even motors, breadboards, LEDs, and other items for the electronic hobbyist.
The game half of the store has games from most every system, and all the current systems can be bought here. There are a number of promotional videos and game demos going, featuring all the newest and upcoming items in the world of video games. Consoles and systems can also be bought here, as can most of the accessories. New releases can often be pre-ordered and picked up here (sometimes with sweet little bonuses).
The front counter has a couple of things of note behind it, like the owner Eliza Hexadecimal. She will be more than happy to help you with anything, and is not a robot. The front counter is also where electronics can be sold, traded in, or put in for repairs.
Overall, the store ranges in tech level and technology type. DOS computers, holographic projectors, steampunk gearboxes… given the size of the store, it’s rather impressive that all this can fit in here. There are a number of guides available to help the technically-inclined in the nexus; specifically to help them make all the different technological systems work together. These guides are also available for free on the Electronics Asylum website, but solid copies are cheap in the store.
Anti-theft system: most of the items in the store have items on them, and there are sensors flanking the entrance. If an item is brought to close to the entrance, a voice comes up politely reminding the customer that they need to buy the item before removing it from the store. If a thief would try to take an item past the large, white columns framing the entrance, the security system will activate. Eliza seems to like to mess with the system, so the details may change from day to day. One thing that stays somewhat solid is a loud voice calling the Mall Kopz to apprehend the perpetrator, but the system often includes a solid attempt to immobilize or subdue the thief itself.
Erin's Emporium (Player: The Bushranger)
Spoiler
Erin's Emporium takes up only a small space in the mall, but its entire front is covered in windows, showing off the much larger space within. On display are countless weapons, ranging from flashy to functional to mind boggling.
If it is a weapon, you can find it here, whether it is a sword or a futuristic explosive. Further, they offer the same wide variety in defense devices.
Gadgets and Gizmos (Player: KerfuffleMach2)
Spoiler
This store holds many different kinds of gadgets. Best way to describe it would be if ThinkGeek.com was a store. And it isn't just electronic, high-tech stuff, ether. You can find unique board games and collectibles, funky toys, even some clothes. It's a geek's dream store. Molly keeps the stock up to date with today's technology.
Hoarders (Player: Rebonack)
Spoiler
Before you looms the cave-like entrance of Hoarders bookstore. Everything in the place has a rough-hewn stone motif, though the floor is smooth and level. Heatless torches light the cavern and burn a little brighter when someone nearby opens a book from off the shelves.
Books of all fashion can be found here, from the mundane to the magical. If aid is required one of the half-dragon employees will be more than happy to lend a claw.
The Book Wyrm himself is rarely seen. Though some say he'll occasionally disguise himself as a customer and wander the store...
Magmart (Player: Magtok)
Spoiler
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.
Mask Parade (Player: Gulaghar)
Spoiler
The interiour of the store is filled with row upon row of simple, wooden shelves. The only break in the shelves is to allow customers to walk to the counter on the far wall.
The shelves are filled with countless masks of a wide variety. Similarly, the walls are covered from floor to ceiling in masks. Behind the counter the masks almost seem to form a spiral shape while elsewhere they are arranged in neat rows. Without exception the masks are finely crafted.
The owner of the store is an unassuming man. His eyes are always focused on those who are in his shop. Perhaps to reassure the customers, or unsettle them further, the corners of his lips are always turned up in a friendly smile. He is known only as The Mask Salesman.
Mental Menagerie (Player: Slii Arhem)
Spoiler
Have you ever wondered what it would be like if you had chosen a new career, married a different spouse, or maybe just had the time to take a load off once in awhile? Wonder no more. From instantaneous vacations to new and exciting thoughts, gain the benefit of decades of research and lifetimes of backbreaking toil without all the hassle of doing things the old fashioned way. We are the Mental Menagerie, and we sell experience.
M'usic Imporium (Player: ThePhantom)
Spoiler
Instruments fill the store, with a small stage area to the left of the entrance. A sign saying that lessons are available for people who ask is on the door, and a list of times for sessions when people can just walk in and start playing music is by the mic resting on the stage.
Mil C. Noce, the store’s manager, often is behind the counter, with a black bird like being sitting on his shoulder.
(For people willing to pay more, Mil will bring out the instruments with special tricks.)
Neon Coliseum (Player: Lost Deep and Vael)
Spoiler
The Neon Coliseum is easy to spot from across the room. The large, bright orange sign serves to draw the attention of anyone who walks by, and the doorway is lit with great arcs of green and pink neon. Upon closer inspection, the doorway is a large arch, designed to look like black stone… but that ends at the entrance.
The inside is black carpet with white designs, black walls, and several tons of neon lights. Black lights are also somewhat common, giving any white the usual glow. Pink lights line the corners of the room and ceiling, but most every color of neon that ever existed (and most of the ones that don’t) can be found somewhere in the arcade. The arcade games are as varied as the Nexus itself; everything from Pong and Pac-man to futuristic holographic fighting games. This place has a number of games of every type that an arcade is expected to have… and then some. Dance games, Guitar hero, fighting games, racing games, side scrollers, skee ball, air hockey, chess, holo-chess, ping pong…
They have another room as well. There are console and PC games in this one, and tournaments are held regularly. The number of games available is borderline mind boggling. Any game worth anything since DOS came out can be found in this room, most of it in digital form. All the consoles and controllers are solidly secured, and stealing anything from the coliseum would be very difficult.
The entrance to Diffraction Wars, the mall's laser tag arena, can be found at the back of the first room. The laser tag arena itself is slightly foggy, with multiple levels connected by ramps. Mirrors and lenses are common, permitting skilled and clever players to score from unexpected angles.
Banclaw Dunigoth can be found, either behind the main counter or repairing one of the many machines. In addition to repair, he has taken it upon himself to act as the bouncer of the arcade. He will throw out, literally, anyone who causes trouble. He often aims to throw them towards any nearby Mall Kopz, ensuring the troublemaker’s expedient and rough ejection from the mall if they do not shape up.
When she's in, Grace usually roams the arcade at random, ensuring that the employees are working well and the customers are satisfied.
Pontius's Custom Constructs (Player: Earl of Purple)
Spoiler
The sign above the door is large, stating its name. On either side of the door are two humanoid figures, one made of polished marble and very realistic, the other simply hewn from logs and blocks of wood. The figures have glowing blue eyes, and turn to watch passers by. On the door is a sign- "Thieves may be pounded into a bloody pulp."
Within, there are many statues, both humanoid and not, and of every imaginable material, all with glowing eyes of various colours. There are two doors in the back, one leading to a freezer unit and the other to a chamber filled with bubbling cauldrons.
Witch Which's Wish Shop (Player: Haruki-kun)
Spoiler
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 colorful 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
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.)
Food Court
Carcosa Burger (Player: Rebonack)
Spoiler
Before you looms a food-court eatery of cyclopedia monoliths and impossible archways and angles of masonry that by all means should not exist. It's difficult to tell whether the entrance is a vast gateway in the wall or a yawning pit in the floor.
Once one steps inside they will be met with an overpowering sense of- oh. Wait. It looks like a normal burger place on the inside. Yellow, white, and grey predominate the decor.
The people working the counter look a little strange though... They'll take orders in typical cheerful food-service fashion. Should one glance back toward the kitchen they'll get a good view of shoggoths blebbing off hunks of flesh to be grilled.
They make their ground beef fresh! Carcosa Burger! Our food is maddeningly good!
Menu: Shoggoth Burger: Grilled fresh and piled high with crispy veggies and slathered in Carcosa Burger's famous Color Out of Space sauce! Can be ordered double, with cheese, with bamhacon, with mushrooms, and with avocado for extra charge. Best eat it fast before it crawls off your plate!
Deep One Fillet: Not actually breaded Deep One, just deep fried fish on a burger. Comes with tartar sauce and cheese.
Giant Penguin Burger: A delicious breast fillet of giant penguin breaded and grilled to perfection.
Totally Normal Chicken Nuggets: They're just chicken nuggets. They can be ordered in dark or light meat. They can be ordered with a variety of dipping sauces. There is nothing strange or unusual about them in any way. You suspect nothing!
Monolith Fries: Potato hunks fried to perfection. They come in traditional geometry or non-Euclidean crisscut. Nom them instead of staring at them for too long...
Elder Thing Frosties: Delicious milkshakes made from only the finest ice-cream chilled with Antarctic ice that hasn't seen the light of the sun for eons! They come in chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry.
Fountain drinks are also available! Nuka-Cola, Fox-Cola, Llamanaid, Root-beer, and orange!
Chester's Grille (Player: KerfuffleMach2)
Spoiler
Chester's Grille serves grilled subs, fries, onion rings, ice cream, and soda. Normal subs include turkey, steak, chicken, veggie, ham, burger, and salami. People can combo any of those, and choose from many toppings. The subs are grilled up right there, within minutes, so they're always served hot. The fries and onion rings can have cheese, bacon, ranch, or other toppings on them as well. Chester puts up a weekly special, which is a sub that isn't normally on the menu.
Dana's Place (Player: Gulaghar)
Spoiler
On the upper floor of the food court is a pleasant, little ice cream parlor. Black and white checkered patterns and the colour red are prominent in the parlor's decoration. Along the right wall is a long counter, it's glass top reveals a multitude of pails of ice cream. For seating a number of bar stools allow customers to sit at the counter and several booths line the opposite wall.
The proprietor is a cheery young woman named, unsurprisingly, Dana. She took over the shop after her father retired. He can still be found helping his daughter on occasion.
Behind the counter on the wall is where the selection of icecream is listed. The selection is simply vast. From soft serve to hard ice cream to sundaes to blizzards. If it's ice cream it can be found here.
Hansel's Bakery (Player: Vael)
Spoiler
In the quieter environment of the food court's second floor is cafe largely painted in greens, whites and browns, wooden tables spaced neatly within, under slowly spinning ceiling fans and quiet violin music. This is Hansel's Bakery, providing the best sandwiches, soup, and baked goods to be found, and also boasting the largest, most intimidating baker ever.
Hansel is a nice guy, really. He just happens to look like a bear in a human costume, and has a scowl that seems to imply he'll be cutting you apart for meat if you dislike his sandwich artistry.
But the prices are great, the food is better, and the atmosphere (apart from Hansel himself) is soothing. So come and try something. You'd better. Hansel thinks you want to try the turkey club. He will go prepare it for you now.
Hooters (Player: Neon Knight)
Spoiler
This place is strictly for the birds. By that, I mean it is staffed by the birds. No, not Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds. I mean the owls. Hooters is a restaurant entirely staffed by owls. The crew runs the gamut of species magical and mundane, from giant talking owls to teeny tiny regular owls that deliver napkins and toothpicks. Then entire darn place is full of owls.
Aside from that fact, it is a fairly normal, straightforward sports bar type restaurant. Inexplicably owned and operated by owls. I mean, if it was an elven restaurant with a nature theme, that would make sense, but this is just a restaurant ran by owls. And their specialty is chicken wings. Isn't that like serving your cousins at dinner? Nobody does that. Except maybe cannibals.
The space above the tables is filled with rafters and lofts for the owls to rest on. The floor is surprisingly clean, given that owls are very messy birds. Maybe they give a hoot, and don't pollute. The food is good, and acceptably priced, aside from the chicken wings, which, while good, are overpriced and oversold.
The waiters are primarily giant, intelligent, talking owls, or in some cases, shapeshifters that can take the form of owls (and have to stick to that shape while in the store. It's like being in uniform.) One of these is Takara, a strange, shapeshifty lady palyed by the Neon Knight ((who is, ironically, kinda busty in human shape.)).
So come on in, and remember to ro, ro, rotate your owl. And tip him, too.
Restaurante Enchante (Player: Kid Kris)
Spoiler
Situated at one end of the Food Court's fancier second level, this restaurant, a tasteful, art deco construction of warm browns and oranges, Restaurant Enchante is what might be called 'a cut above' most of the other restaurants that grace Mallside. The restaurant is split into three sections - Smoking, Non-Smoking and Outdoors, and upon entering, one would be led by one of the young (and highly-attractive) waiters and waitresses, dressed in identical sparkly red dinner jackets, to their chosen table.
Indoors is atmospheric and moody; the light is dim, all flickering candles and haze (actual cigarette smoke in the Smoking section, harmless mist in the other), and the rectangular tables and heavy armchairs shy away in the secluded nooks and twists of the restaurant, even the ones in the open seemingly a private island of intimacy amongst the hushed whispers and spangly-garbed waitstaff drifting past.
Outdoors however, is a different affair. Round, plastic tables and clean white chairs mill about under a bright, clear sky, always perfectly sunny or starry no matter what the actual weather conditions might be outside, and drinks flow freely from the bar at one end, amidst friendly conversation and the ever-present servers rushing to and fro.
Each section has a raised stage discretely thrusting out from one of the walls, where Pond, the famed, trans-dimensional all-Marid string quartet do their nighttime performances, as well as an assortment of lesser ensembles throughout the day, ready to provide whatever mood required. The cuisine, though frighteningly expensive, is representative of a vast array of cultures and styles, and is all masterfully prepared by some of the most talented chefs in the entire multiverse, willingly or not.
The owner of Restaurant Enchante, the half-succubus Lillanthil, may occasionally be found drifting through one of the sections of the Restaurant in whatever expensive fashion of the day, making light conversation and generally checking on things within.
Finally, the Restaurant also does birthdays, proposals, wedding receptions, and other events, provided reservations are made first.
Santa Muerte's Sweets (Player: Neon Knight)
Spoiler
Santa Muerte's is a little white cart pushed around the foodcourt, owned and operated by a most strange individual. A tall being in traditional Mexican attire, Santa Muerte is nothing less than Death himself. Saint Death, as a matter of fact. That's what the name means. Santa Muerte is a gold plated skeleton who looks like one of those "Day of the Dead" images you sometimes see. You know, the happy, laughing skeletons in bright clothes, with hair, looking fully alive and vivacious despite not having flesh?
Despite his potentially ghoulish appearance, Santa Muerte is definitely holy. He gives off a happy, festive aura, an almost infectious cheer that'll have you smiling quicker than firecracker going off. He himself is friendly, loud, and energetic. He's great with the kids, many of whom don't seem to fear him at all. They seem to understand that Santa Muerte is no Grim Reaper, no cruel specter of death.
Santa Muerte's cart has many exotic treats; Pineapple ices and passion fruit juice, coconut candies and molasses toffee, sticks of sugarcane and dried papaya slices. Best of all are the snow cones, which he often gives out for free and come in a variety of tropic flavors.
Santa Muerte also often hands out little complimentary items, like tiny plaster saints, pagan idols, flowers, herbs, candles, simple potions and elixirs, charms, and protections against the evil eye and ailments of mind and body.
Tarin's Tealeaves and Tarot (TTT or T3) (Player: Neon Knight)
Spoiler
This establishment is a most bizarre place, a strange fusion between a secluded forest scene, something like a fairy ring or secreted away fey grove, and a Victorian tea house. Ornate wooden tables stand on green grass next to tall trees. Giant toadstools stand right next to barstools, both suitable for the average human being. At most tables, tea saucers and cups stand ready, and the centers are piled high with fruit, biscuits, butter, milk, honey, sugar, and other things that go well with tea. A clock on wall has only one hand and three labels: Tea Time, Not Tea Time, and Late For An Important Date.
This is Tarin's Tealeaves and Tarot, a combination tea house and divination parlor. Come for the tea and the insanity, stay for the cartomancy and Tarot readings! Tarin doesn't actually quite understand the concept of money yet, so she hands out tea and fortune tellings for free.
Zombie A-Taco-Lypse (Player: ThirdEmperor)
Spoiler
In the middle of the busy lower food court is a large kiosk, painted deep red and verdant green, with chairs and tables set up around it in an open area around it, walled off from the hustle and bustle of the mall by a barrier of shrubbery, cut to resemble hands bursting out of the ground. This, as a large sign proudly proclaims, is;
Zombie A-Taco-Lypse
A finger-lickin' armageddon!
Not actually an apoca-plot in any way shape or form
Do not feed the waiters
Zombie A-Taco-Lypse is staffed solely by tame, non-infectious zombies, who despite being dead still manage to be quicker and more sanitary than the average fast food employee, and serves all sorts of tacos, as well as pizza, french fries, smoothies and milkshakes, all of which, save the drinks, are served nearly as hot as the world's inevitable incineration.
Nearly all of the food is SCIENCE! themed, such as the Pizza Pi, perfectly spherical pockets of dough containing mozzarella cheese, tomato sauce, chopped mushrooms and ground meat, and some of the specialties are outright bizarre, including Molotov Cocktails made with edible gasoline so as to be 100% drinkable and 60% proof, Brainfreeze Smoothies, guaranteed to slow down your brain and give you a peaceful reprieve from complex thought for the next four hours, and the house special, Tesla Tacos, ground beef fried to a greasy crisp by no less than authentic lightning in a hardshell taco, topped with sour cream taken from cows abducted by aliens, grated cheese milked from Shub-Niggurath, the Black Goat, genetically engineered guacamole and a delicious salsa made from mutant killer tomatoes and red hot peppers.
Zombie A-Taco-Lypse
Food that's to die for
Above comment is not meant to be taken literally, and furthermore, there is no scientific proof that eating at Zombie A-Taco-Lypse in any way increases the odds of death
Other Locations
Aurora Fountain (Player: Vael)
Spoiler
As any good mall should have, Mallside has its own fountain, and an elaborate one at that. In the center of the food court, with dozens of varying statues and sculptures spraying out water, Aurora Fountain attracts a great deal of attention due to the varying colors of water is shoots out. Tossing coins or currency into the fountain is encouraged, and is rewarded by a change of color of the donator's choice. It's also rumored that if you fervently wish something and toss a coin in, that wish just might come true... but it is only a rumor.
Security Room (Player: Gulaghar)
Spoiler
Behind a door marked 'Authorized Personal Only' is the security room for the mall. Monitors line all unoccupied sections of wall in the large room. They display feeds coming from the numerous security cameras around the mall. Watching these monitors are a number of orks, the Mall Kopz. Perhaps the most important fixture in the room is the mammoth coffee maker. It can brew no fewer than ten pots of coffee at once and can be found in the center of the room. A number of gretchins keep the room in pristine condition despite the destructive nature of the orks. A single door labeled 'Keep Out' opposite the entrance is the only other way out of the room. Please disregard any loud noises heard from this room.
Rules and OOC
Spoiler
Mallside is meant to be a peaceful location used as an alternative to taverns and pubs for characters to congregate and meet each other. With this in mind, here are a few general rules to follow.
1: Please don't destroy Mallside without discussing it in OOC first. It can hardly serve its purpose if it is destroyed, so that should be kept to a minimum. Not to say it can't ever be destroyed, but it should be rare, and hopefully reversible in a timely manner.
2: Please don't have huge fights in Mallside. A fight in a big mall could be cool, I admit, but this isn't a tavern. Brawls are much more out of place here, and again, it gets in the way of the mall's purpose. Again, every once in a while should be fine, but just keep everyone else in mind.
3: Mallside is public, so please no curtaining, it's just really not appropriate, and people don't want to have to read through that.
Now, here are some not rules, but some OOC notes!
- Feel free to make stuff up. While the PC shops should hopefully take care of most needs, every once in a while you need something else. When that time comes, you can mention an NPC store, or a stall, or something. Mallside is big, it can take it. If you want it to be more permanent, just ask to have it put into the first post.
- Don't think about the layout of Mallside much. Like Inside, it changes as convenient, following only those conditions explicit in the descriptions of the locations.
- Mallside is more than just a shop! It's a hang out spot, feel free to roam around.
Re: [Nexus] Mallside I: You Do Not Know the Power of the Mallside
MagMart
"WELCOME TO MAGMART! YOUR ONE AND ONLY SOURCE FOR THE LOWEST PRICES IN INSIDE!
FALL'S COMING, SHOPPERS! PREPARE FOR THE HOLIDAYS WITH OUR WIDE VARIETY OF APOCA-KITS, HALLOWEEN COSTUMES, AND MORE!
ATTENTION CITIZENS OF RIVERSIDE: TIRED OF HAVING TO COME ALL THE WAY TO BLUE ZONE JUST TO GET THE BEST PRICES? MAGCORP HAS HEARD YOUR CONCERNS, AND A MAGMART IN RIVERSIDE IS OPENING SOO-"
Nevermind all of that, I'm sure the cultists aren't very interested in the intercom announcement. Nor the humanoid robot greeter with his typical "Welcome to MagMart, your one-stop shop for all the best deals in the Nexus" blathering. They should be able to locate their jar just fine, assuming it's there.
Whether these smelly pickle zealots have any money to purchase the jar with, of course, remains to be seen. There's security around, on the off-chance anyone tries to shoplift. Lots of security. Magbots have a nasty habit of taking robbery and everything else related to this store waaaaay too seriously.
__________________
"If two wrongs don't make a right, try three."
-Laurence J. Peter
Maggy Dent avatar by happyturtle
Last edited by Lord Magtok : 09-15-2011 at 09:21 PM.
Re: [Nexus] Mallside I: You Do Not Know the Power of the Mallside
[Neon Coliseum]
A strange woman enters the establishment, her head turning this way and that to take in all that is around here.
She is tall, willowy and elegant, moving in small graceful steps. Her sandaled feet make barely any noise upon the floor as she moves. Her clothing is a blue robe of light, almost foamy looking cloth, colored in a blue like the clearest waters of a tropic beach, and adorned with patterns like rolling tides and whirling pools that eddy in shallows. Her skin is almost an earthy hue, bronzed and tanned, and her hair is a very pale blonde, almost tow-headed, as if it were bleached by the sun.
She looks uncertain as to where to start, and unfamiliar with just about everything in the building.
Re: [Nexus] Mallside I: You Do Not Know the Power of the Mallside
MagMart
The head smelly pickle cultist will stop in front of the robo greeter while his underlings move on.
Gentle automaton, we come to give praise and thanks to our most holy of relics. Please accept this humble donation, with our request it be used to fire your ceremonial cannon to acknowledge this holy day.
After that he'll join his fellows in bowing to the pickle jar.
Re: [Nexus] Mallside I: You Do Not Know the Power of the Mallside
Neon Coliseum
The woman approaches the desk in a respectful matter, almost with a sort of regal dignity about her, but without arrogance and haughtiness. "Yes, I would like to partake in the entertainment of this establishment."
Re: [Nexus] Mallside I: You Do Not Know the Power of the Mallside
Neon Coliseum
"Hokay. The system is simple: you pay for the tokens," He shows her a reasonable price chart, "And you use the tokens to play games. You have one you want to try? Pac-man is very popular. There is sum chess over there if you prefer that."
He seems to have some trouble pronouncing some of the words. All the same, he's rather polite. The system is easy, and there is no "ticket" system to scam her with!
Re: [Nexus] Mallside I: You Do Not Know the Power of the Mallside
Quote:
Originally Posted by Slii Arhem
MagMart
The head smelly pickle cultist will stop in front of the robo greeter while his underlings move on.
Gentle automaton, we come to give praise and thanks to our most holy of relics. Please accept this humble donation, with our request it be used to fire your ceremonial cannon to acknowledge this holy day.
After that he'll join his fellows in bowing to the pickle jar.
MagMart
"Holy relics? What are you-"
Oh right, that pickle jar. It'd been so long since anyone acknowledged it that the Magbot had completely forgotten it was ever there. He'd also forgotten all about the cannon, too.
"Wait, the cannon? Isn't that supposed to fire one of-"
Hey look, it's the manager! Magtok leaps right between the two, taking the money off the Magbot's hands and pocketing it instantly.
"Yep, one of the Magbots! And lucky for everyone else working here who isn't you, MX-963, I've decided to assume he wants you in it! Isn't that wonderful?"
"Sir, I'm not entirely sure I'm comfortable with the direction this conversation is taking. Are you certain tha-AAAAAGH!"
The Magbot is lifted right off its feet by a quartet of cashier-bots and dragged towards the cannon! Weeee! Meanwhile, Magtok turns back to the head cultist with a smile.
"Can I help your group with anything this else, sir? They're nowhere near as wonderful as your most sacred jar, of course, but we've plenty of lesser pickle containers for sale, if you want to bring anything home on the trip back from your...err, pilgrimage."
Re: [Nexus] Mallside I: You Do Not Know the Power of the Mallside
Neon Coliseum
The woman thinks for a moment, and then reaches into her silken robe, pulling out a single pearl and placing it on the counter. "I believe I will try this Pac-Man game. How many tokens will I receive for this?"
Last edited by Neon Knight : 09-15-2011 at 09:58 PM.
Re: [Nexus] Mallside I: You Do Not Know the Power of the Mallside
[Neon Coliseum]
Grace is currently ensuring all the computers and consoles are up and running in the gaming room. Her coat and vest are folded over a chair as she sits under one of the desks, trying to untangle some of the inevitably tangling cords that such a room requires. Hopefully she won't get her horns caught.
[Food Court]
Aleph has ventured into the mall curiously, and has been drawn to the Aurora Fountain in the center of the food court. The teen sits on the edge of the fountain and watches the water arc and slowly change colors, waiting for someone to make a request for a specific one.
Re: [Nexus] Mallside I: You Do Not Know the Power of the Mallside
[Food Court - Aurora Fountain]
There is a brief metallic clomping as a man clad in head to toe in black armor approaches the fountain, emitting a radiant glow from sigils and runes imprinted upon the surface of the material. He stops before the fountain, and removes his helmet, a hiss coming from the pneumatic seal releasing. It reveals the face of a young man, energetic and happy as he briefly runs a hand across his hair. Then he removes a single coin from a pouch at his belt, and flips it into the fountain, which obligingly becomes neon green. He watches for a moment, then looks at Aleph, another coin poised on his thumb. "Does the young lady have a request?"
Re: [Nexus] Mallside I: You Do Not Know the Power of the Mallside
MagMart
The head cultist rises from his prone position slightly to look at the... odd man addressing him. Magtok may notice that the cultists are indecently old.
Thank you honored one, we have come here in our final hours, bearing all of our worldly goods to pay homage to the One Great Jar. We offer them to you in exchange for a last meal of pickled vegetables and jam, as well as a a cup each of refreshing brine.
He withdraws from his robe a crystal cucumber, and proffers it to Magtok. The others follow suit.
Re: [Nexus] Mallside I: You Do Not Know the Power of the Mallside
[Food Court]
Aleph starts as she's addressed and looks up at the man who addressed her, but then flicks her eyes back down at the fountain. "Oh, um, not really." She stares at it for a little more before she blurts out a few more words. "I just wondered- how does it work? So I'm watching it."
Re: [Nexus] Mallside I: You Do Not Know the Power of the Mallside
[Food Court]
The man chuckles, looking back at the fountain. "I kinda wish I knew how it worked, too. Magic, I suppose." He looks back to her. "Though that may not be a very satisfying answer. I'm Daniel, by the way. You can just call me Dan."
Re: [Nexus] Mallside I: You Do Not Know the Power of the Mallside
Neon Coliseum
The Grengarun looks at the pearl. Uh...
He pulls out the Nexus Buisnessowner's Guide to Universal Currency and leafs through it a bit. Pearls... he tries to appraise the pearl. However, chances are it is worth months of tokens. This is a place designed for teens to hang out with their change from part time jobs and allowances! Not for royalty or whatever she is!
Re: [Nexus] Mallside I: You Do Not Know the Power of the Mallside
[Neon Coliseum]
The woman doesn't give the impression of being royalty. Composed, sure, regal, yes, perhaps wealthy in an archaic fashion, but not quite nobility. As for the pearl, it might not actually be worth that much. It's a raw pearl, that hasn't been cut or refined at all, and it isn't flawless. Honestly, it looks like she just took this from the oyster very recently, and without any attempt to raise its value. Might still be worth quite a bit of tokens, though.
Re: [Nexus] Mallside I: You Do Not Know the Power of the Mallside
[Food Court]
"Oh." Aleph says simply, before she quite realizes that introductions are going on. "Oh! I'm- Aleph. I think. Good to meet you?" She says tentatively, holding to the edge of the fountain.
[Neon Coliseum]
Grace probably does know the worth of the pearl! But she is somewhat preoccupied with wires, which she's entirely tangled up in at the moment. She's holding a few strands of a snarl with her three tails, while picking it slowly apart with her hands. It's very annoying work.
"A pearl? Well, they are rather like gems, their worth highly depends on the quality of the pearl and the work that has been done on it. Would you like me to look at it? I'm in the gaming room right now, trying to get things neatened. Stupid wires..."
Re: [Nexus] Mallside I: You Do Not Know the Power of the Mallside
[Wandering Around]
Xalicus had managed to find his way into Mallside, where he got lost almost immediately. Experienced travellers could sometimes use the ever-shifting nature of the Nexus to take them to their destination more easily, but he had neither much experience with the Nexus nor a specific destination in mind, and thus ended up going all over the place.
Eventually, he was lucky enough to reach Barkhouse Bestiary. "I might as well check this out, I guess, seeing as it doesn't look like the building's rigged to explode or anything and there's nothing else nearby." He headed inside and hoped for the best.
__________________
When in doubt, use cute little dragons.
Re: [Nexus] Mallside I: You Do Not Know the Power of the Mallside
[Food Court]
"A pleasure to meet you, Miss," Dan says, with a flourish and a bow, "and I hope my company isn't too bothersome." He briefly looks at the fountain and flips his coin in. The fountain turns neon orange. "I'm stuck in a bit of a rut with my choices, I'm afraid."
___
[Neon Coliseum]
The woman barely moves, standing erect and still almost like a statue, but her body language conveys some degree of slight discomfort, of nervousness, of a fear that she has committed some faux pas by holding up the normal functioning of this business.
Re: [Nexus] Mallside I: You Do Not Know the Power of the Mallside
[Neon Coliseum]
"...needs to be straight." Grace mutters to herself, though she knows Banclaw is correct. She had no idea what she was doing with electronics, after all. Magic was what she was used to. "Alright, I'm coming. I'll be just a moment."
She doesn't really have time to put on her vest and coat, so she slips them into that vaguely defined space she seems to have, straightens her tie, then heads out into the main arcade to find Banclaw and this pearl he's having trouble with.
"Can I see it?" She asks as she comes around an arcade game, holding out a hand to Banclaw. Grace hasn't quite gotten a glimpse of Takara yet, given the angle she came in from. Takara is obscured by Banclaw, and Banclaw is kind of big.
Re: [Nexus] Mallside I: You Do Not Know the Power of the Mallside
Neon Coliseum
Banclaw hands Grace the pearl.
He then turns to the customer. "We are sorry for the inconvenience." He sounds sincere, and is a bit embarrassed by this whole thing.
He then goes into the console room. His angle of departure will result in Takara and Grace being largely unaware of each other until the last possible moment.
Well, let's see these wires she's having trouble with.
Re: [Nexus] Mallside I: You Do Not Know the Power of the Mallside
[MagMart]
Spoiler
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gulaghar
I'm sure some aren't Magtok themed. Like the one Sakura has just picked up. She holds it up for Adir to see. "Look at this one. It has wings and a tail like Harnel's." She giggles a bit at that.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Murkus
"Yeah. I think it's supposed to be a dragon." Adir says, smiling himself. He points at the varying colors. "We could get a red one. Make Harnel uncomfortable when Laela can't tell the difference."
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gulaghar
[MagMart]
Sakura laughs and replaces the green one with a red one, which is paced in the cart. "Do you think we should get more? She looks at the toys. Nothing catches her eye at the moment.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Murkus
MagMart
After a second of deliberation, Adir takes down one of those dangly things that gets placed above the baby's crib. Little animals on strings, with lots of pink and blue. "This should work."
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gulaghar
[MagMart]
"What's that for?" Sakura asks curiously. She takes one of the dangling animals in her hand to get a closer look.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Murkus
"Um, it spins above the baby's crib. They can play with it and stuff." Adir says, wondering if they need more. I mean, how many toys does a kid need, right?
But wait! Something catches Adir's eye. He takes a little plastic space-gun off the shelf. The kind that shoots foam balls. "You think a little girl's gonna like this?"
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gulaghar
[MagMart]
Sakura bites her lip. A toy gun? "She wouldn't be able to play with it for a while, but I don't see why not." She replies.
Re: [Nexus] Mallside I: You Do Not Know the Power of the Mallside
[Neon Coliseum]
"No, I... I apologize for the trouble." Takara speaks softly and ever slightly tremulously. She doesn't see Grace until Banclaw moves aside, and she's quite surprised. "Oh..."
Re: [Nexus] Mallside I: You Do Not Know the Power of the Mallside
[Food Court]
"No, it's okay." A little weird, but okay. Or is it? Maybe she doesn't have a proper basis for what is and isn't weird. "Have you been here long?" Aleph asks, making a brave, if not particularly inspired move towards conversation.
[Neon Coliseum]
Grace glances up to the customer in question, a polite smile ready, and meets the surprise with her own. "Takara? I thought..." Grace's smile turns genuine, and she reaches out to give Takara hug, carefully holding the pearl in one hand. "I'm glad to see you again."
Re: [Nexus] Mallside I: You Do Not Know the Power of the Mallside
[Barkhouse Bestiary]
It looks like a pet store!
The arcatecture is quite different from the rest of the mall. In fact, it looks almost like the shop had been grown out of living wood inside of its room instead of assembled. All smooth, organic curves here.
And cages!
And pins!
And aquariums!
All sorts of stuff to hold all sorts of critters!
There's an elderly man in a frumpy wizard hat sitting behind the counter reading a book entitled, 'Advanced Bio-Chemical Transmutations for Dummies.'
Looks like the author is Abrajin.
Behind the counter is a sign which reads, 'We take custom orders!'
Nearby two children and the man who is presumably their father are admiring a parrot.
__________________
Warning! Random Encounter™ detected!
Spoiler
Zee is a perfectly normal human female. You suspect nothing!
Winifred 'Freddie' Fredrick
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Re: [Nexus] Mallside I: You Do Not Know the Power of the Mallside
[Erin's Emporium]
Boris arrives here. He's carrying a silver briefcase, which might appear a little uncharacteristic of the sniper. He also looks a little tense, mostly because he doesn't really like malls.
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[Nexus] Mallside I: You Do Not Know the Power of the Mallside
Like the one Sakura has just picked up. She holds 
