Arlie_B after Avery and Arsul have left.
Dionysus Where do you guys go?
Dionysus Or what do you do?
Arlie_B "Arsul, I need information."
Dionysus And is Sue still there?
Arsul up to Arlie if he's still there
Arlie_B it's ok if Sue is still there.
- Sue is clearly curious. With no objections, he sticks with Arlie and Arsul for now.
Arlie_B "Has anyone in our band been compromised? Especially Avery? Who here has commanded Avery with his true name?"
Sue "I have. What do you mean by 'compromised'?"
Arlie_B "Who here knows Avery's true name?"
Dionysus Aurelia walks in.
Dionysus With Bartleby
Arlie_B "Avery could have easily been commanded as a sleeper agent. Connell for sure knows his name. If he has, I've already sent word to Rumbleford asking if he knows a way around it."
Arlie_B "The idea came to me after Fane and Qualla visited us."
Arsul "I think you're getting ahead of yourself. I will check though."
Aurelia "Sleeper..?"
Sue "It would be a violation of tournament rules if he did that. Tampering at least, possibly an attack as well."
Arsul r pro 25
Eklem Arsul [pro: 25] 27 32 35
Arsul Is anyone in our band uder another's control rather than their own?
Arlie_B replace Sleeper with "Psion-ed"
Aurelia Same response.
Dionysus You see Bartleby and Aurelia intertwined into one person, and you feel the vision being blocked.
- Arsul pulls out of that one and tries another tactic. "Is anyone in the band being coerced or manipulated by another entity?"
Arsul r pro 25
Eklem Arsul [pro: 25] 26 28 32
Arlie_B "Powerful psionists can make people do things they wouldn't do normally, sometimes months later. I knew a friend in the forces who had to hunt down a psionist who used normal people as assassins."
Dionysus ...
Dionysus You see the whole band overshadowed by a woman who is music, a woman who is hope, Damon Argent, Emperess Marilyna, any of them who are married, any of them who have loved ones... and then the vision is distinctly blocked.
- Arsul starts to ask the above question for individual band members
Arsul am I blocked for each band member or only certain ones?
Dionysus Just for Sue.
Dionysus All the rest you can see the people who influence their lives
Arsul but it's a distinctive block for Sue
Arsul ?
Arsul does it feel different than other times I've prophecied on Sue?
Dionysus It's void.
Arsul thought so
- Arsul comes out of his trance
Sue There's a hole where your vision goes. I'm sure we've discussed it by now, it's Quaigor's influence.
Arsul "No one is being coerced."
- Arlie_B lets out a sigh of relief. "Ok, how many people know Avery's true name? We need to keep him from then."
Arlie_B them*
- Arsul goes back into trance
Arsul Who knows Avery's true name?
Arsul r pro 25
Eklem Arsul [pro: 25] 27 35 35
Arlie_B "After this, I say we use the day off productively. I'll send Klaus to make sure that the other scions have arrived. Then, I say we mount an offensive against those against us."
Sue "What did you have in mind?"
Dionysus r hidden things 25
Eklem Dionysus [hidden things: 25] 28 33 34
Arlie_B "That battle last night was a uniting experience. We have an army, none of whom can be eliminated. We have those who would seek to eliminate us."
Dionysus Conell, Rumbleford, the band, Diamond, the woman who is music, Civitello, two of his lieutenants (Hollow Tim and the spectre), and a vision of yourself as a child being chased by morags... twice.
Arlie_B "So far we've been playing defense, blocking our opponents attacks. I say we mount an offensive."
Aurelia "How?"
Arsul twice I have that vision of me?
Sue "We've struck down the obvious ones. We need to find out who the rest are."
Arlie_B "We figure out who else is on that list Arsul came up with, then we arrange a special ops mission."
Dionysus Yes, twice, and sorry, yes, you see a dream of beauty encased in glass like steel, surrounded by black thorns
Arlie_B "Have Diamond and some of the others visit those who met on the hill, thank them for their help, and tell them that there's still more to do, and to be ready. Tell people that if we need to gather everyone, we'll call them with song."
- Arsul comes out of his trance again. "Unfortunately for Avery a lot of people know his name. His fathers, us, Rumbleford, Civitello and at least two of his men, The Goddess, I think. Also a beautiful dream trapped by thorns and possibly the God of Nightmare and someone else who's also blocking my visions with visions of fear."
- Aurelia frowns.
Arlie_B "But no-one else here, that's good."
Sue "That could be Nightmare's avatar, if He has one."
- Aurelia looks toward a wall, head canted.
Dionysus Back to main chat with this convo
Arsul "Perhaps. It xould also be someone who uses fear as a tool. There are many."
Dionysus Jack, Aurelia, and Bartleby, you seek Rysham?
Jack yes.
Dionysus His room is 839. On your way to it, assuming that's where you start, you pass room 837, belonging to Mark Goodrick
Aurelia Anyone in there?
Dionysus Aurelia, you sense a familiar weaselman in it
- Aurelia looks toward the door with a faint frown.
Dionysus Bartleby notes the frown emotionally, but keeps following Jack
Jack when we get to the room, Jack knocks quietly and politely.
Dionysus Rysham answers, bedraggled and disheveled. Upon seeing Jack, his emotions spike to panic, "Now, look, Mister Jack, I just want to start off with an apology. I didn't know what he was gonna do when I first sign on to manage him.
Dionysus "And when things got ugly with you and him, well, you know me. I climbed under the table and closed my ears.
Dionysus "But when I got here, well.
- Jack raises an appeasing hand. "No need sir."
Dionysus "It was my goal, see--oh, what?"
Jack "I appreciate it, really, but I'm here for somethin' else."
Jack "And I'm prepared to beg if that's what it takes."
- Jack explains the situation.
- Jack frames it as, "I thought she was worried, I didn't expect any response," etc.
Dionysus Do you explain about Ilais?
Jack "It was no more conversational than if I'd asked for a blessing." yes.
- Aurelia watches from the side for signs of disapproval.
Dionysus He feels wariness, Aurelia.
Dionysus "You prayed to a living saint, Mister Jack?"
Dionysus And curiosity.
Jack "I keep hearin' that distinction."
Dionysus "She tol' you it was rude, right?"
- Jack gets worried, then nods. "I misunderstood what that was about."
Dionysus He nods, and suddenly feels as if he has an idea. "Let me elaborate, then, and consider this your judgment. Come with me."
Dionysus He steps out and starts walking down the hall.
- Jack follows.
- Aurelia and Kashaji follow Jack.
Dionysus He goes downstairs. Like always, going down one flight of steps takes you to the first floor. At the first floor, he turns and goes up them again, heading for the second. He walks down the hall, checking some rooms, until he finds one with a person in it that he apparently feels is appropriate: Unity.
Dionysus He knocks and asks her to step out a moment.
Dionysus "Miss Unity? You're a follower of the Mother of Music?"
Dionysus She nods.
Dionysus "Then, on behalf of the Contest, and for 1000 free points, would you do me a service?"
Dionysus She looks curiously at Jack, Aurelia, and Bartleby."Yes, of course."
Dionysus "Pray to Jack Crane, Euphonic Knight, Servitor of Music, and Saint of Music for me, please?"
Dionysus She blinks, "What?"
Dionysus "Just do it. I'm teaching him a lesson."
Jack "er...did you say..."
Dionysus She looks to Jack, then slowly lowers to her knees.
Dionysus Rysham gives Jack a look right in the eyes, probably for the first time in his frightened little life.
Jack I look (and feel) confused
Jack and Aurelia, it actually overshadowed the other rattling emotions.
- Aurelia watches Jack curiously.
Dionysus Unity murmurs, and Jack, you hear in the base of your soul,
Convey my words to the Mother. I seek to be seen well in Her eyes, and hope this serves her in the name of the Contest.
- Jack is probably greatly surprised by this?
Dionysus The best metaphor is like having yourself jerked about by a dog's leash. You can resist, if you'd like, but there's a strong compulsion to do as she asks.
- Jack probably reflexively does.
Jack in whatever way seems instinctively most appropriate.
Dionysus You feel the words flow out of you, hear ringing in your ears, and feel suddenly tired.
Dionysus However you manifest in character is fine. OOC, all you have to do is will it so and it is.
Jack that's probably what happens before Jack can take physical action.
- Jack shakes his head out.
Dionysus Rysham looks at Jack, feeling expectant and like the lesson should be well taught by now. "Get it now, Mister Jack?"
Jack "I'm sorry."
Jack "Hey uh, is it the same if she just intends to convey me information?"
Jack "I mean, minor distinction I know, but I'm curious now."
Dionysus "I'm not the one to be apologized to, Mister Jack, though from the sound of your story, Miss Venuvea might not want to hear it right now. And I don't know. I'm not a saint. I just know what I'm told."
Jack and to Unity. "Thanks."
Dionysus Unity smiles, "Umm, sure. Not sure what a 1000 points does for me now, anyway, but I'm not one to thumb my nose at it."
Dionysus She smiles, bows, then heads back into her room to finish doing her make up.
- Jack waits for Rysham's judgment.
Dionysus Rysham just starts to walk off.
Jack Aurelia, Jack feels intense shame, worry, and fear.
Jack and starts to walk away.
- Aurelia frowns slightly, and follows Jack.
Jack "Oh gods, Aurelia, this is big. THis is bigger than needing a drink."
Aurelia "Yes."
Jack "This is like...needing a bottomless universal drink for all eternity."
Dionysus Bartleby says, "Anything I can do, I will."
Jack "When this contest is over..."
Jack "...I'll just crawl under a rock somewhere."
Jack "There aren't words to describe how I screwed this up.'
Dionysus Bartleby shakes his head, "When we've saved the gods, I think she'll forgive you."
Jack "It's not just her."
Jack "I was a saint."
Jack "Or I was supposed to be."
Jack "Or somethin'."
Aurelia "Yes?"
Dionysus Bartleby says, "If the prayer thing worked, aren't you still?"
Jack "Then the gods are bein' very forgiving."
Jack "Alright. Let's get back to work. RIght now the steam from that is all that's keepin' me going."
Dionysus He nods, "Back to the others?"
- Aurelia touches Jack's arm lightly for a moment, then nods.
Jack back to the group?
Dionysus Back to the main chat
Dionysus So Arlie's analyzing their fighting styles. What's Avetry doing?
Arlie_B "When did Roberto get so good at fighting?"
- Avery has no idea what to do really, so is just watching and keeping an eye on what else is going on around them.
Arlie_B "It's impossible to keep a distance with him, even a sword doesn't hold him off."
Avery "Could be trouble."
Dionysus Avery, his Gifted Skin is of course invaluable
- Arlie_B 's eyes glimmer. "Avery, the Gift you carry, it can shoot bolts of light, right?"
Avery "Yeah...it's hard to aim, though, especially at a human-sized target."
- Arlie_B thinks. "Well that's still our best bet if an attack happens, your Gift is possibly the only thing that can keep him at bay."
- Avery nods.
Arlie_B "What makes the bolts hard to aim? Does it shift under tension like a bow?"
Avery "Kind of...it's hard to describe. I have to focus to use it, and in the middle of a battle it's really hard to sometimes. I might've gotten better at that with all the archery, though..."
- Sue waves. "Arsul!"
- Arsul turns his head toward Sue but continues walking. "Hello Sue. How was the match?"
Sue "The Prince lost narrowly and slipped away via magic, so we lost track of him. He may have even left the grounds."
Sue Deepa won, right?
Arsul "Does that mean he's out of further rounds or is there another elimination round?
Dionysus Yes.
Dionysus He's out
Sue "He lost against us and again today, so he's eliminated."
Sue Thoughtfully, "We can probably count on him to attack us directly the night before our match."
Arsul "Perhaps."
Sue "Can you find out where he went?"
- Arsul tries to maintain his walking while going into trance this time
Arsul "Where is Gryfyn Cuniaid?"
Arsul umm no ""
Arsul r pro 25
Eklem Arsul [pro: 25] 28 30 34
Dionysus r hidden 25
Eklem Dionysus [hidden: 25] 26 29 32
Dionysus You see him entering room 428
Arsul that's the room he's been staying in?
Dionysus No, that's Roshadam's room
- Sue follows Arsul as he trances.
Sue Trance-walks.
- Arsul pauses a moment before telling Sue. "He's gone to room 428. The shemir Roshadam's room."
Sue "I see. We need a pretext to approach Roshadam."
Arsul "You might yes." he says as he continues away from the dormitories
Dionysus Lucilla keeps pace with Arsul. Goxix sticks with Sue.
Sue "Oh, I know. We'll ask his advice on reversing his song. Thank you, Arsul." Sue turns away to go to Roshadam's room.
Arsul "Of course." he says to Sue as he leaves with Goxix
Dionysus You head for the underground lake, Arsul?
Arsul yes I do
Dionysus You walk unerringly to the temple building, into it, and to the music temple, where several euphonically voiced women stop you, "Halt, Prophet."
- Arsul pauses at the voices, slightly confused
Dionysus "You may not go beyond this point."
Arsul "May I ask why?"
Dionysus "No."
- Arsul frowns. He reaches out with his perceptions, looking for another path.
Dionysus Prophetic or just normal?
Arsul prophetic
Dionysus You see a part of the temple of music here that you don't recognize, but that is the one you must currently be in, and you see the entrance from the lake beneath
Arsul so it's the only way to the lake
Arsul ?
Dionysus Yes
Dionysus Barring planar travel or other magic
- Arsul prophecizes a bit further
Arsul r pro 25
Eklem Arsul [pro: 25] 28 30 32
Arsul Why is he being prevented from entering this portion of the music temple?
Dionysus You see she who is music beyond this point.
Arsul is it the champion?
Dionysus Is that a prophetic question?
Arsul I've prophecized on the champion, does she feel similar?
Dionysus It's the same, yes
Arsul Will she allow me to pass if I ask directly?
Arsul r pro 25
Eklem Arsul [pro: 25] 27 28 34
Dionysus You get no vision
- Arsul pulls out of the trance and does a silent prayer to the Father of Fate to guide me along my path and then he listens to his intuition to direct him from here
Arsul r faith 7+5
Eklem Arsul [faith: 7+5=12] 14 16 18
Dionysus You feel compelled to share your vision with the guards.
Arsul "I would not intrude on Her quarters normally. I have been following a vision of a saboteur who is entering a temple below this one. It's next to an underground lake. The only entrance available to me is through there." he gestures slightly toward where he was heading with one hand.
Dionysus Lucilla snickers, "Too bad you can't see their faces." The priestess says with a scowl in her voice, "Speak to no one of this."
Dionysus You hear most of them turn to go out the back way here.
Arsul as in they left?
Dionysus Yes
Dionysus There are two left
Arsul they're still blocking the way?
Dionysus Yes
Arsul Am I feeling compelled toward the temple still?
Dionysus No. It seems taken care of.
Arsul oh ok
Arsul "Well I guess that's taken care of. What did their faces look like?" he asks Lucilla as he turns to leave
Dionysus "Shocked."
Dionysus She snickers, "Like you just slapped them."
- Arsul smiles slightly. "I wonder what they're doing with that temple down there."
Dionysus She shrugs, "Where to now?"
Arsul he lets his feet guide him
Arsul as they're heading out of the temple
Dionysus A'ight, they'll take you back to the others, but it might take a minute.
Arsul "This way, apparently."
Sue Aurelia wasn't invited, but she can probably sense a lot from down the hall.
Dionysus What do you all discuss?
Aurelia I joined in confusion. May I stay in curiosity?
Sue "Arsul, one of the conspirators was a 'bow and arrow', right?"
Arsul "Yes."
Sue "I've been thinking about that since Avery first mentioned the possibility of using his bow in combat, and I realized that all of the archers we've seen at the contest are in groups which have been friendly to us."
Dionysus Aurelia, you may stay
Sue "Logically, we have to conclude that there are traitors in at least one of those groups. And it may represent Avery or Tomerane, as well."
Arsul "Neither Avery or Tomerane are traitors. And while that is a possibility among the other archers, the bow and arrow could be a symbol."
Arsul "It is a symbol of the new Goddess of the Hunt I believe? I don't think she's involved but I don't think the bow and arrow needs to refer to someone who only uses a bow as a weapon."
Sue "Tomerane is extremely guarded. Avery wouldn't conspire against us willingly, but as Arlie pointed out earlier, he can be controlled by the naming - by Connell."
Sue "There's a hunter in one of the friendly groups, a badgerman."
Arsul "Could you guard his hearing during this concert with your antivox?"
Arsul "I could look into him if you wish?"
- Sue nods. "Yes. I'll try to do that, with his permission. However, there's another possibility to consider: that we misread one of the earlier signs. I'm speaking of the 'distinct blocking'."
Sue "The Servant may have been a mere pawn, not an active conspirator. In that case, the blocked conspirator would have to be Goxix, or one of my followers - or me."
Arsul "Sue you are not a conspirator."
Arsul he is certain of this
Arsul "I can attempt ot look into the others but as you say I may not find a definitive answer.""
Arsul "Do you propose we watch these unknowns during the battle as well?"
Arlie_B "I don't believe Arsul has the power to see you even as a block if you were against us, Sue. I'll hold you a friend until your actions prove otherwise, I promise."
Arlie_B "As for Coaxal and Goxix, both with be away from the battle as it goes on."
Arlie_B "And won't be able to betray us directly, if they plan to do so."
Sue "I have no desire or reason to betray the group. However, there's a possibility that I may be given one before this is over. I don't believe the Void Father has told me everything I could know that could possibly help you. If something were to happen, if I were to change sides, I would want you to know that I ... that I couldn't have predicted it."
Arsul "I know there is no intent to betray us within you Sue. Rest assured."
- Arlie_B puts a hand on Sue's shoulder. There is clear care and compassion in his face."
- Sue smiles. "You're blocked. You don't know. But you trust. Thank you for that."
Arlie_B no "
Arsul "While I cannot see everything that lies before us I can also tell you I have not seen any indication that such a betrayal should come to pass. You are not completely lost within my sight."
Arsul "But yes I trust you as well. And you're welcome."
- Sue stops smiling. "Until then, if one of my followers turns, leave them to me."
Arsul "As you wish. Know that I am hear should you need aid.""
Dionysus Because the next match is pushed back to night, the clarion wake up call does not come. Instead, Arlie, you are awakened by a knock at the door.
Dionysus Aurelia, the sense of someone in the hall, a feeling of well balanced emotions, awakens you that morning, as they are tinged with worry.
Dionysus Sue, Goxix rolls over and nudges you awake.
Dionysus Arsul, you just wake, feeling perhaps this is a good hour to get up.
Dionysus Avery, you awaken to the swirl of nightmares ending around you, in rooms down the hall, and Jack, you simply can't sleep any longer.
- Avery jerks awake and looks around, then relaxes once it registers the nightmares are fading.
- Jack lays in bed a bit as the good dream recedes from him
Aurelia In the hall at my door? Or at Arlie's?
Dionysus At Arlie's, Aurelia.
Arsul Am I still feeling like this is an auspicious time in fate?
Dionysus It
- Aurelia stays where she is, then.
Dionysus It remains with you, yes.
Dionysus Bartleby rolls over and blinks at you, Aurelia. He's waking as well.
- Arsul rises and moves where fate leads him.
- Aurelia smiles faintly at him.
- Avery gets up and dressed and goes to check on Jack.
- Sue sits up and looks through his notes.
- Jack goes through a quick decision, then answers the door.
Jack "Ay."
>Sue< yo
Avery "Hey. How's it going?"
>Arsul< yo
Jack "I slept well. how are we doin'? Where are we in the process?"
- Arlie_B wakes up and reaches for his sword.
Avery "Dunno. Haven't seen any of the others yet. Someone wasn't sleeping too well last night, that's about all I know. Nightmares."
Arlie_B he gets up. "Who's there?"
- Jack nods. do we have a round today or no?
Dionysus "It is Fitz, from the Starlings."
Dionysus No, Jack.
- Arlie_B checks his ring and opens the door. "Excuse the bedclothes. Everything alright?"
Jack "I guess we got a little time to work with..." starts to ask something, but thinks better of it. "I'lll see if anything sounds good to eat."
- Avery smiles. "I was just gonna ask if you wanted breakfast."
Jack "Guess we'll find out."
- Jack leads the way.
- Avery chuckles softly and goes with.
Jack "Avery...I'm not gonna be real good company for a while."
Dionysus "Not at all," Fitz says impassively. "Do you know much about the caerthorin?"
- Avery nods. "I'll still be here regardless. You've put up with me at my worst, I figure it's time to return the favor."
Jack "Thanks, mate."
Arlie_B "A what?"
- Avery just smiles and puts a hand on Jack's shoulder for a moment. once they're in the cafeteria he asks for two cups of coffee.
Dionysus "Our bullroarer player was of a race called the caerthorin. When they die, they are said to vanish completely, bodily. So when I saw him this morning, I knew something was strange. Would you come with me?"
- Jack hadn't thought as far as drink, but is grateful Avery ordered.
Arlie_B "Sure, give me a second."
- Arlie_B goes back in and puts on his armor. When he comes back out, "Does he need a healer?"
Arlie_B "Or is he just not himself?"
Dionysus "He's dead."
Avery "You want to stop by the temple today? Or wait until everyone else is up and see what's planned?"
- Arlie_B nods solemnly, and knocks on Aurelia's door.
- Jack thinks about that.
Jack "I'm...probably not in the best state to go to the temple."
Jack "Especially since this is...Avery, you were there. You heard what she said. I made some key mistakes."
Jack "Besides that, I found out I'm kinda an arsehole."
Jack "Did you know I'm a saint?"
- Avery nods. "Yeah, I know. but I figure it might not be that bad an idea. I've been meaning to go by the Caretaker's place for a couple days, is why I asked. I didn't know about the saint thing, but we've known you were the other thing for a while." he grins.
- Aurelia opens the door after a pause.
Arlie_B "Aurelia, Fitz says someone in their band is dead." He looks behind her, "Bartleby, is it ok if I borrow your wife for a bit?"
Dionysus Bartleby snorts, "I'll come with."
- Aurelia smiles slightly at Bartleby, then nods to Arlie.
Dionysus Bartleby slips on his flashy clothes and belts on his sword before joining you.
- Aurelia has her dress on. She picks up her weapons and bag.
Arlie_B "Have you brought this to the judges yet?"
Arlie_B to Fitz
Dionysus "Laerell did."
Dionysus Sue and Goxix enter the hall just down the way
Arlie_B "The Starlings have been attacked, we're going to see if we can help."
- Sue pauses in the hall. "What attack?"
Arlie_B "Their bullroarer has been killed."
Dionysus Fitz says, "Our bullroarer player, Ovanembra. He is a caerthorin. When he died, I expected, as I have been told, that his body would vanish completely. It has not. And he is clearly dead. The portents of this..." He looks around.
Sue "Who killed him? Why?"
- Arlie_B looks around. "Take us too him for now. It's harder for people to listen if we move."
Dionysus Fitz frowns, "Would you all come with me to the body? Perhaps we can learn more there."
Dionysus He leads the way
Dionysus Goxix and Bartleby follow if their significant others do
- Aurelia does.
- Sue starts following, speaking to Goxix. <We'd better look into this.>
Dionysus <As you wish. It sounds no different from most deaths.>
Sue <If I understand him correctly, some type of magical power has failed. This may fall into our sphere of expertise.>
Dionysus <Are we suspects?>
Dionysus As you come to their floor, Fitz leads you into Ovanembra's room, where Laerell, a high elf, is waiting. She looks worried. "Fitz, Irrosus is missing."
Aurelia Is there a body there?
Dionysus Yes. He looks like a Cassaran human.
Dionysus His body is very muscular, and his throat is neatly cut.
Dionysus (Inuit = Cassaran)
- Aurelia burns silver and steps forward toward the body.
Sue Any trace of void?
Aurelia "Would you have me call to him?"
Dionysus "Call to him?"
Dionysus No trace of void.
Arlie_B "She means should she try and bring him back."
Arlie_B "I think."
- Aurelia nods.
- Arlie_B looks between Fitz and Laerell
Dionysus Laerell says, "I have revived him before with my arts, but this morning, not even my Gift helped."
Dionysus Fitz nods.
Arlie_B "You talked about portents, what did you mean?"
- Aurelia kneels to try anyway, unless there's objection.
Arlie_B "Be careful, Aurelia."
Dionysus "Why didn't he vanish?"
Dionysus They do not object
Dionysus "We think something took his power to vanish before he died."
Aurelia r Revive 25+3+1
Eklem Aurelia [Revive: 25+3+1=29] 30 32 35
Dionysus If you try, Aurelia, argentfire laces his veins, flickers in his wound, and fizzles out.
- Aurelia stands again with a slight frown, and burns black.
Dionysus Laerell says, "Thank you. I'm sorry."
Dionysus She puts her hand on Aurelia's should.er
Dionysus Someone, Aurelia, feeling... panicked, comes onto this floor, Aurelia, and rushes for this room.
Arlie_B (Kaylie will brb)
Sue "There's no trace of void. The Prince is still a possibility."
- Aurelia looks at Laerell, then blinks, looking toward the feel. "Someone approaches in fear."
Arlie_B "My money would be on Gryfyn. Sue, he probably can't hide from you."
Dionysus Fitz grimly nods, then looks to Aurelia. Katerina, from the Ocean of Sound, enters, then pauses, "R-Rella is missing."
Dionysus Fitz says, "And Irrosus is missing."
Dionysus Katerina looks to Aurelia, then to Fitz, "Damn. They said the Sound and Fury was here. I thought the prophet..." She turns, pauses, "Do you know where the prophet is?"
Arlie_B "Tell people to gather near the courtyard, and start telling people to travel in pairs. We need to find Arsul."
Arlie_B "We'll try and find them."
Dionysus Fitz says, "Laerell, do what you can for Katerina." Katerina is already moving. Laerell follows her.
Dionysus Fitz says, "Who do we tell to gather?"
- Arlie_B walks down the halls, back to Arsul's room, banging his swords together as he goes, making a racket.
Arlie_B "Morning all! Check your friends! Travel in pairs!"
Sue "Gather all contestants and their entourages."
Dionysus Fitz watches Arlie go, looks to those still in the room, then goes back to his room to get his things before he goes to gather people.
Dionysus Bartleby stays with Aurelia
Dionysus Arsul is not in his room, Arlie.
Aurelia Is he on the floor/
Aurelia ?
Dionysus Yes.
Dionysus Err, no
Dionysus Arsul is not on the floor
- Sue follows after the rest of the group.
Dionysus I thought you were talking about the body for some reason
Aurelia No, Arsul.
Arlie_B "Hey! Arsul! You there?"
Aurelia "No."
Dionysus Bartleby shakes his head
Arlie_B "Ok, then for now we gather who we can, get them together. We'll do this the old fashioned way. If someone picking off contestants, we'll get all the contestents together to make their job difficult."
- Aurelia frowns a touch and nods.
Dionysus Bartleby frowns, "Or easier. Like fish in a barrel."
Dionysus "Where do we start?"
Sue "We'll go to the temple."
Arlie_B "At the very least we'll gather more information. They had fish in a barrel last night and it didn't work so well."
Dionysus "A lot of people died last night, Arlie."
Arlie_B shit, did people die in the stadium?
Dionysus Some.
Arlie_B then retcon my last.
Dionysus "Where do we start?"
Sue "Better that a few should die together than many should die separately. Letting the contestants get picked off individually isn't any better."
Dionysus Bartleby throws up his hands, "We'll start in the cafeteria, then work our way up? Sounds great, Bartleby. Thanks, Bartleby. Glad you're keeping up, Bartleby." He starts to walk off.
- Aurelia blinks, and hurries to follow.
Jack I heart Bartleby.
- Sue heads for the temple.
- Arlie_B follows Bartleby as well.
Dionysus Goxix joins Sue.
Dionysus The cafeteria isn't as full as usual, Arlie.
Dionysus Bartleby strides in, steps up on a table, then looks to you, "Should you tell them or should I?"
Dionysus To Arlie, he looks.
- Arlie_B steps up on the table as well. "We've had reports of missing and killed band members. All who want the protection of more Gifts and eyes, gather with us in the <place, courtyard>. Check on your bandmates and travel in pairs."
Dionysus Do you mean the training grounds outside the quartering house?
Arlie_B yes
Dionysus People look to Arlie, then some nod. Others shout, "Who's dead?" "What happened?" "When?" "Who killed them?" "Who's missing?" etc. Others ignore you, and others just start moving.
Arlie_B "Ovanembra is dead, Irrosus and Rella are missing."
Arlie_B "We suspect the Prince. He may be able to turn invisible."
Dionysus A wave of murmurs flows through the room
Arlie_B "If your attackers hide in the shadows, then you start turning on the lights. Together we can protect one another. I'll see everyone out there."
Dionysus Henry Cockrobin says, "When do we meet in the training grounds, now?"
Arlie_B "Yes."
Dionysus He nods, then starts gathering his things.
Jack r read crowd 15+2
Eklem Jack [read crowd: 15+2=17] 19 23 23
Arlie_B "Where next, Bartleby?"
Dionysus They all look worried, some determined, like they're all on the verge of moving en masse out of here, Jack
- Jack arrives, leading a relative with bed-hair.
- Avery seeks out Arlie.
Dionysus Jack, Avery, and Arsul arrive
Dionysus With Jonas Bantam
Jack "Arlie!"
- Aurelia looks toward Jack.
Dionysus Bartleby just shrugs.
- Avery is worried, agitated, and determined. "Arlie!"
Arlie_B "Jack! Arsul! People are going missing."
Avery "We know."
Jack "You don't fockin' say!"
Dionysus Bantam shivers
Arlie_B "
Arlie_B "Has Arsul looked into it?"
Jack "Only ours."
Avery "PArt of it. One of the judges might be in on this whole thing."
Arsul "Yes. I did."
Arlie_B "Ours? Who's missing?"
Dionysus Bantam moans, "My wife."
- Avery nods to Jonas. "His wife, and a bandmate's child."
- Aurelia frowns slightly, watching Bantam.
- Jack squeezes his eyes shut and shakes out, then blinks.
Arlie_B "I'm gathering people together in the training yard."
Arsul "She took the child to some tunnels in the Arena. Now she is with a nymph judge. They both have a thorn in their hearts."
Arsul "Why?" he asks Arlie
Arlie_B "That will at least make it harder to pick people off."
Dionysus Bantam stares at Arsul.
Jack "And tip our fockin' hand."
Dionysus Bartleby grins, "Well, we just told everyone in here," as many are streaming out, "So it's too late not to."
Avery "How many people will fit in the training ground anyway?"
Dionysus A couple hundred
Jack "On our way there. Now. come on."
Dionysus He is dragged
Arsul "I know where the wife is we do not need to search for her. The child is dead."
Arlie_B "Other people are missing as well, Arsul. We couldn't find you, so we started to gather people so they'd be harder to pick off."
Aurelia "Where?"
- Avery snaps his gaze to Arsul, adding shock, then cool anger to his repertoire of emotions.
- Jack looks to Bantam. "I'm sorry you had to hear that, mate."
Dionysus Bantam shakes his head, tears running down his face. "Can't be as bad as that cross, right? Nothing's that bad."
Arsul "In the tunnel. I could take you there but there is no body. She was fed to a monster."
Jack "Oh yeah. Some things are."
Arsul "I don't know why."
Dionysus Bantam sighs, "Yeah. I guess so."
Dionysus He sobs.
Jack "Easy mate."
Jack "Avery? Help?"
Aurelia "When?"
- Arsul frowns. he feels uncomfortable
Avery "I'd need my guitar, if you want help calming folk down."
Arsul "Not long ago."
Arsul he estimates the time
Dionysus Probably an hour or two
Jack "Fock. Stay with him. I'll get mine and yours. Someone come with me."
Dionysus Oh, for the eating? About 45 mins
Aurelia "Take me to this monster."
- Jack goes, whether anyone follows or not,
- Arsul takes Aurelia
Jack to get Fender and Avery's guitar.
Arlie_B "Arsul, before you go, where is Rella and Irrosus?"
Arsul r pro 25
Eklem Arsul [pro: 25] 30 31 33
Arsul Where are Rella and Irrosus?
Dionysus You see Rella's body beneath the mass of her pet behemoth, in the Victory Field next to the training grounds.
Arlie_B r read 15
Eklem Arlie_B [read: 15] 16 18 21
Arsul is she hurt?
Aurelia r rogue 16
Eklem Aurelia [rogue: 16] 19 20 25
- Aurelia 's expression is blank.
Dionysus You see Rella's body beneath the mass of her pet behemoth, in the Victory Field next to the training grounds.
Jack assuming no incidents, Jack returns with the instruments and demands to know why no one went with him.
Aurelia How long is this taking Arsul?
Arsul "Rella is beneath her pet on the practice grounds. I think she's dead."
Arsul "I don't know where Irrosus is."
Dionysus For Irrosus, you see a bow and arrow, following... a bone with a stinger, a poison drake, a bone with a corona, a sand drake, a bone broken by a blade, a firedrake, a wolf enshrouded in night, a lioness, a hawk made of gold, a bull, a blue man walking a sideways eight path, a gray lizard, a glowing hawk, a dream, a set of scales, and a silver drop.
Dionysus Or you could wait on me to finish.
Dionysus But you can pull out and not know where he is. Your choice!
Dionysus It takes about five minutes.
Arsul I'd've waited. You just repeated Rella's vision so I assumed there wasn't another
- Arsul relays the second vision. "Irrosus is the bow and arrow and he is following a ......"
Dionysus Assuming you all enter the training grounds, you see Sue and Goxix amongst the throngs now there
- Arlie_B curses. "Ok, thank you Arsul. Be careful."
- Jack hands the guitar to Avery.
Arsul "Where should I take you Aurelia?"
Jack "Be ready."
Aurelia "The monster."
Sue Did the guy I sent back with the arrow make it here?
- Arsul takes her there
- Avery makes sure it's in tune and just nods.
Dionysus Uriah's here, yes, Sue. Waiting on Arlie.
- Jack hefts the bass, blinks as if waking up, and takes a deep, relieved breath.
Arlie_B "Alright! Everyone else, to the training grounds."
Jack then shakes out again.
- Aurelia touches Bartleby's arm before following Arsul with Kashaji, unless he follows as well.
Jack (this is the smaller, +1 bass)
- Avery goes, absently glancing around for Connell.
Dionysus Conell is not present.
- Avery is both worried and relieved to see that.
Arlie_B (brb)
Avery is the rest of the band and entourage present?
Dionysus No.
Dionysus Just the people from the cafeteria, the temple, and the area around the dead behemoth are present.
Dionysus Aurelia and Arsul just left with Bartleby.
Dionysus Sue, Goxix, Bantam, Jack, Avery, and Arlie are presumably at the training grounds by now.
Avery "Arlie, where are the others?"
- Jack blinks. "Avery?"
- Avery glances at Jack. "Hm?"
Jack "Why the fockity fock did we just let Aurelia and Arsul go off without the rest of us?"
Avery "Because of all the people in this band, those two can probably handle themselves the best?"
- Jack thinks about that, and it occupies the rest of his reasonable response time.
Arlie_B "I don't think anything can hold Aurelia back if she wants to go."
Dionysus Uriah Trumble pushes through the crowd, "Battisto?"
- Jack turns to him and warms up the bass a bit.
Arlie_B "Yes?"
Avery "I wouldn't want to try. Shouldn't someone go get the others?"
Jack r crowd read 15+2
Eklem Jack [crowd read: 15+2=17] 19 20 26
Dionysus "The athak told me to tell you this arrow killed the behemoth." He hands it over. "The mage said it was enchanted with a new magic like fauna and death."
Dionysus Mostly Contest staff, Contestants, and their entourages, worried, working out, or determined, Jack
- Jack keeps an eye out.
- Avery suddenl remembers something. "I'll go get them." and he takes off back for their rooms, vanishing as he goes to escape notice.
Arlie_B "Thanks. Everyone! Irrosus has turned renegade, and he's hunting contestants. Who has the skills necessary to find him before he kills someone else?"
Jack "Fockin' ell Avery!"
Jack "stupid fockin faery prince I'll <mutter mutter mutter...>"
Jack "Fock."
Jack "Cidney Broncour my language skills are regressin'..."
Dionysus No one responds, Arlie, except to give uncertain answers
- Jack starts up a subtle tune to calm everyone.
Jack probably a Thrush.
Jack and wanders the crowd with it, also keeping an eye out.
Dionysus Finally, Jemora the Gambler says, "I might be able to help!"
Dionysus She steps forward.
Arlie_B "How so?"
Dionysus She pulls out an eight sided die. "I can roll this, and it'll tell us which direction to look in."
- Sue catches up at this point and makes his way to Arlie. "I should be of some use, once we find him."
Dionysus She rattles the die in her hand, looking to Arlie questioningly.
- Arlie_B looks at her. "Thanks. Everyone who wants to hunt a hunter, come along. Everyone else, gather the forces and be alert."
Dionysus She grins, then rolls.
Dionysus dice d8
Eklem 4 | [d8=4]
Dionysus "Southeast of here. Umm," she looks to the wall of the quartering house, "So in the long leg of the L building, maybe?"
Sue What is Goxix going to do?
Arlie_B Arlie casts detect magic, looks at the arrow, and tries to tune the detect magic again to detect hunt magic.
Dionysus If you ask her, she says, <I can keep my skill here, if you wish to hunt the hunter. That way, the power of Void will be in both places, ready to act.>
Dionysus The first time, it's the strange death and fauna thing. The second time, it just responds with the equivalent of a "yes"
- Jack stays with the flock, keeping them calm.
Arlie_B "Let's go." So it's Jemora, Sue, Goxix, and Arlie?
- Sue nods. <It would be inconsiderate of us both to leave, now that we have gathered these people together. Be safe.>
Dionysus <And you as well, Avatar.>
Sue The gambler and two of the hero-bards.
- Jack focusses on the song and the crowd.
Dionysus Little Wing flies down to land on your shoulder, Jack
Jack <Hey! How are you?>
Dionysus <Avery's gathering everyone and Leia's missing!>
Jack ...
Jack <Oh fock.>
Jack <Okay. We gotta focus here. Can you get airborne and keep a simurgh's eye view on things?>
Dionysus He takes flight.
Jack <Thanks, mate.>
Dionysus There's a slight stir at the edge of the grounds.
Arsul as he arrives he says to Aurelia. "I'm sorry. I don't think my idea worked."
Dionysus You hear a horrible noise.
Dionysus All of you.
Dionysus Jack, roll will.
- Arsul turns toward it
- Aurelia looks at Arsul a moment, then quickly toward the noise.
Dionysus r cacophony 16
Eklem Dionysus [cacophony: 16] 18 19 20
Jack r wp 12+4
Eklem Jack [wp: 12+4=16] 19 23 24
Arsul is it the one I heard earlier?
Dionysus Similar.
- Jack runs that way.
- Arsul covers his ears while turning toward the sound
Dionysus You all see a nightingale girl just drop, dead, then start to... liquify.
Jack where is this?
Dionysus In the training grounds, near the wall.
Dionysus People start rushing to and fro, and you see a strange, hunched man, holding a broken bell, walking through the wall.
Jack so like as I arrive at that area?
Dionysus Yes
- Jack strumms a protective note over all present.
Jack and sings it out.
Dionysus r init new
Arsul r init 25
Eklem INIT: Arsul [25] 28 29 33
Jack r init 19
Eklem INIT: Jack [19] 21 23 29
Aurelia r init 22 kash 19
Eklem INIT: Aurelia [22] 23 23 26
Eklem INIT: kash [19] 21 29 29
Dionysus r init bellman 20 crowd 10 crowd2 13 uriah 19 mdc 14 red piper 17
Eklem INIT: bellman [20] 24 25 29
Eklem INIT: crowd [10] 11 13 19
Eklem INIT: crowd2 [13] 16 16 23
Eklem INIT: uriah [19] 23 24 26
Eklem INIT: mdc [14] 17 17 22
Eklem INIT: red piper [17] 20 25 27
Jack r init LW 16
Eklem INIT: LW [16] 21 23 24
Dionysus r init bartleby 25
Eklem INIT: bartleby [25] 28 32 34
Jack fuck. LW's init is 13. subtract 3.
Dionysus r init show
Eklem (bartleby 32/25) (Arsul 29/25) (kash 29/19) (bellman 25/20) (red piper 25/17) (uriah 24/19) (Aurelia 23/22) (Jack 23/19) (LW 23/16) (mdc 17/14) (crowd2 16/13) (crowd 13/10)
Arsul r hunny 14
Eklem Arsul [hunny: 14] 15 16 23
Dionysus Bartleby shouts, "Begone!"
Dionysus r will 18 bellman 22
Eklem Dionysus [will: 18] 22 22 25
Eklem Dionysus [bellman: 22] 24 30 31
Dionysus But it seems to do nothing.
Dionysus Arsul?
Arsul can I pinpoint where the sound came from?
Dionysus Yes
- ben is now known as Sue
- Arsul is heading toward that and atcking if I can
Arsul attacking
Dionysus How do you attack it?
- Arsul would try to grab it first
Arsul r prowess 25
Eklem Arsul [prowess: 25] 29 34 35
Arsul grab and hold
Dionysus Your hands touch air. It feels like they are being vibrated, though, as you come back with nothing
Dionysus kashaji?
Aurelia Kashaji holds.
Dionysus The bellman shakes his bell again, unleashing cacophony.
Dionysus r cacophony 16
Eklem Dionysus [cacophony: 16] 17 17 24
Dionysus Jack,roll will again
Jack can I parry with music faith, as a euphonic knight?
Jack r wp 12+4
Eklem Jack [wp: 12+4=16] 17 17 19
Jack is it worth the karma?
Dionysus Faith makes more sense as a roll. I was assuming his cacophony was hitting your shell of music
Jack r faith 19
Eklem Jack [faith: 19] 27 27 28
Jack holy Bowie, batman.
- Jack jerks his bass up like he was dancing with his guitar in a performance.
Dionysus The power of this bell ripples over your shell of protective music.
Dionysus The redpiper plays.
Dionysus r fire faith 16+4
Eklem Dionysus [fire faith: 16+4=20] 21 22 26
Dionysus r diff 19
Eklem Dionysus [diff: 19] 22 25 28
Dionysus But no sparks fly.
Dionysus Uriah starts twirling his Gifted Bolos, moving to get a good shot.
Dionysus Aurleia?
Dionysus Aurelia?
- Aurelia draws her swords, looking at him again through the sword of systems to try to make sense of what she feels.
Dionysus It's just sound, Aurelia. He's bad sound. Not alive, not dead. Just evil aspected sound. Connecting back to the bad note, somewhere, which connects, as a priest to a god, to Rex.
Dionysus Jack?
- Jack begins to sing out a good demon-slaying song.
Jack r 19
Eklem Jack [19] 21 27 28
- Aurelia has quit (Read error: Connection reset by peer)
Dionysus r cacaophony minus evil 22-6
Eklem Dionysus [cacaophony minus evil: 22-6=16] 17 18 23
Dionysus You see it there one moment, then it is gone the next.
Jack r vocals 25+6
Eklem Jack [vocals: 25+6=31] 33 35 39
Dionysus The unpleasant noise is gone. The horrible feeling is gone. It's gone.
- Jack keeps playing to recover/heal anyone hurt by it.
Jack playing and singing.
Dionysus The dead nightingale is mostly blood and bone now. Not much remains.
- Aurelia burns silver and starts forward to try anyway with what's left.
Dionysus What emotion do you use?
Aurelia Joy.
Dionysus Avery and your entourage arrive, with most of the rest of the band
NPCs.
- Avery looks like he just saw his mother die all over again. Feels like that, too.
- Jack takes a deep breath, enjoying the peace of music.
- Arsul rubs his hands a bit, still feeling uneasy
Dionysus Bartleby smiles back. "Good morning."
Aurelia "Mm. Good morning..."
Dionysus "I hear people outside."
Aurelia "Arlie speaks to the Starlings' dulcimer. Avery has gone to Jack."
Dionysus "Should we get up?"
- Aurelia thinks about the question for a few seconds, then nods.
Dionysus There's a knock on the door.
Dionysus Bartleby and Kashaji stick with you, Aurelia, as you follow Arsul
Dionysus You go to the Arena, past the massive, dead behemoth, into the tunnels where the concerts have been thus far.
Dionysus Into dark corridors, back ways, and utility passsages.
Dionysus Is Hunny with you?
Arsul yes she is
Dionysus Your feet bring you to an unused room, where blood is all over the place, and nothing more.
- Arsul tries to sense and smell where the monster has gone
- Aurelia as well, keeps her senses open to anything living in her range.
Dionysus You smell nothing but the blood of a young nightingale.
Dionysus There's nothing in these tunnels that you can find
Aurelia "Where is it gone?"
Dionysus You might hear or feel a mouse or two.
Arsul "Shall I search for it?"
Aurelia "Yes."
- Arsul moves into a trance once more
Arsul r pro 25
Eklem Arsul [pro: 25] 26 28 30
Arsul where is the monster that ate the nightingale?
Dionysus You see a box in the bad note's hands.
Dionysus It has four keyholes.
Arsul Where is the bad note's room?
Arsul rpro 25
Arsul r pro 25
Eklem Arsul [pro: 25] 26 35 35
Dionysus Room 422
Arsul Where are the keys?
Arsul r pro 25
Eklem Arsul [pro: 25] 31 33 34
Dionysus You see the bad note
- Arsul pulls out of the trance.
Arsul "The person from 422 has the monster in a box. He also has keys to the box. The bad note."
Aurelia Do we know who's in 422?
Dionysus Dophanon Pard
Aurelia "Is he there?'
Aurelia "
Arsul Was he in the room in the vision of him and the box
Arsul ?
Dionysus You didn't get a place in that vision that was distinct.
Arsul "I'll try to find his location
Arsul r pro 25
Eklem Arsul [pro: 25] 30 31 32
Arsul where is the bad note now?
Dionysus You start to see something, like a vast hall, then... the sound is harsh, unpleasant, and it throws you out of the vision and hurts your ears.
- Arsul clampshis hands over his ears
Aurelia Momentary pain or lasting?
Arsul "I think I'm being--" he winces "blocked. I saw a large hall, I think." he almost whispers
Arsul even if it doesn't hurt he remembers it for a while
- Aurelia frowns. "Arena..?"
- Arsul frowns "I don't believe so."(Yes?)
Dionysus It's not the Arena. It was a big enclosed hall.
Dionysus Not the main Arena, anyway
Dionysus Might be somewhere in the tunnels somehow, or the box seats
Arsul "It might be off the Arena. I can try something."
Arsul he tries to follow fate at the moment
Dionysus You end up taking them back to the training grounds
Jack "Yeah I know..."
Jack "Would you ever believe I was a saint?"
Avery "You want the honest answer?"
Jack "I can take it."
Avery "Yeah, I would."
- Jack looks surprised by that.
- Avery smiles. "Jack, in the time I've known you, music has just about been everything for you. Hell, the entire reason I wrote Blackguard was because I kinda looked up to you. It was a real shock finding out you knew it. And you've come a long way just in the few years since I met you. You're not perfect, but you /try/, and you /believe/, and you /play/. Sure I'd believe it."
Jack "Music's all I got now."
Avery "No it's not."
Jack "That includes you and the band."
- You've invited Arsul to #ivory (irc.merukis.net)
- Avery grins. "Well, if you put it that way..."
Dionysus You guys see Arsul approaching
Jack "I won't let you guys down...Ay, Arsul."
- Avery looks up. "Hey, Arsul, have some coffee."
Jack "That much I'm certain of. I don't think I can."
Jack "I think the last thing she did locked me down. I can't fail."
Arsul "Jack. Connell is looking for bandmates. He's already asked my brother."
- Avery looks at Jack, about to speak, then back at Arsul. "Bandmates...? I thought he was a solo act."
- Arsul takes the coffee
- Jack thinks about that. "So why come to me?"
Arsul "Apparently he's been told by a judge that he has to have a band for the final round."
Arsul "Your the head of our band Jack."
Jack "If we join him, does that screw us?"
Arsul "We're not joining him."
Arsul You're
- Avery bites his lip, suddenly nervous.
Arsul "However, scrounging good talent is something we should watch for. They could be elevated above us in the scores if we're not careful."
Jack "So you need a band good enough to beat his competition but no threat to us?"
Arsul "My brother plans to accept if Connell isn't proven to be a bastared."
- Avery keeps his mouth shut.
Jack "Don't we suspect him?"
Avery "'We' is kind of a general term."
Arsul "I don't need a band at all. We might want to try and control who he gets to join him."
- Jack thinks.
- Jack twitches a little.
Jack "Who all is interested so far besides your brother?"
Arsul "I haven't looked into it yet. But I can."
Avery "might be a good idea."
Dionysus A man, Jonas Bantam, approaches, cautiously.
Jack "And what happens if he can't get the band?"
Arsul "I have no idea."
- Avery looks up at him. "Hey..."
Arsul r goes into trance
Eklem Arsul [goes into trance: 0] 1 9 10
Arsul oops
Arsul r prophecy 25
Eklem Arsul [prophecy: 25] 28 29 33
Dionysus "Cousin Jack?" he asks, shakily.
Jack "Aye. What's up?"
Dionysus He looks around, "C-can I sit?"
Arsul who's been asked to join Connell's band?
Jack "Sure."
Jack "I'm not real good companty today, but if you can stand it, I can."
- Avery gets him some coffee.
Dionysus A claw and fang, a blocked vision, a flowery canary, a broken wall, a soft song from Maraddon (both male and female), a mole, a set of scales, some bats, a wolf covered in lightning, a violinist, and a horse's hoof drumming.
Dionysus "I... My wife is missing. And... her bandmate's daughter. Both missing."
- Avery tenses slightly and listens more closely.
Jack "Any details?"
Arsul r prophecy 25
Eklem Arsul [prophecy: 25] 27 28 28
Dionysus "We don't know if they've been hurt, or what, but... They were all up early, see, and... Well, Thalia and Mona and all are looking, and we've told a judge.
Dionysus "
Arsul who's accepted his offer?
Jack thinking.
Avery "Do you know where they were last?"
Dionysus "But I thought, you're... You're the top guy, right? You can help, right?"
Jack is that to me?
Dionysus Yes
Dionysus The broken wall, the soft song, the scales, the mole, the bats, the horse's hoof so far
- Jack stands up. "Yeah, why not. Here's the thing, that's not much to go on. However..." thinks....
- Jack looks to Arsul. "I may have a startin' point."
Dionysus He stands, ignoring his coffee.
- Avery smiles. "We'll be waiting a little while, but Arsul can find just about anything. Or anyone."
Arsul What are Connell's intentions for the song?
Jack "I bet money it's connected. All of it."
Dionysus "Sweetie, my wife, she was with the band, but she had to go get a drink, here, and she never came abck to the practice room. Dolly's girl was up in her room while they were practicing, and when they came back, she was gone.
Dionysus "
Arsul r pro 25
Eklem Arsul [pro: 25] 31 32 32
Jack "When?"
Dionysus You see Rufina Colzayre
Dionysus "They were up to practice at 5. They found Dolly's girl missing about ten minutes ago."
Dionysus It's about 7 now
Arsul How will he revive her?
Arsul r pro 25
Eklem Arsul [pro: 25] 27 28 30
Jack "Was her door locked? Who could have gotten in?"
Dionysus You see a million million ways: he'll try anything
- Jack flexes his fists absently and wipes his hair out of his eyes nervously.
- Avery sips his coffee, thinking.
Arsul What will his band do in the Winter Country?
Arsul r pro 25
Eklem Arsul [pro: 25] 29 29 31
Dionysus You see them facing the usurpers, mostly. In a few, they die.
- Arsul pulls out of the trance. "Quite a few have joined him already. Some more are contemplating."
Jack "We got a new one for ya." turns to Bantam. "Ask him."
Dionysus "Err, my wife, Sweetie, the nymph, she's missing, and her bandmate, Dolly, the nightingale, her daughter is missing."
- Arsul frowns. "I'll see what I can find."
Arsul r pro 25
Eklem Arsul [pro: 25] 29 31 33
Arsul where are the missing women?
Dionysus You see a sapphire of startling beauty offering up an innocent child to a shrieking monster, in the far tunnels of the Arena.
Arsul Is the sapphire of startling beauty married to this man?
Arsul r pro 25
Eklem Arsul [pro: 25] 30 34 35
Dionysus You see them intertwined, but the string is breaking.
- Arsul tries to discern if he should go to the tunnels now
Dionysus You see them empty except for some blood.
- Jack paces, waiting for Arsul's answer.
Arsul Why did she feed the child to the monster?
Arsul r pro 25
Eklem Arsul [pro: 25] 27 29 33
Dionysus You see a thorn through her heart.
Arsul Who put it there?
Arsul r pro 25
Eklem Arsul [pro: 25] 31 32 35
- Jack glances at his left hand as if seeing it for the first time, flexes it into a fist and out, turns it over, shrugs, and resumes pacing.
Dionysus You see the thorn.
- Avery stays beside Jonas, watching Jack and Arsul.
Dionysus Jonas frets, standing. He looks a bit like a befuddled farmer, but his hands aren't so rough. His hair is red and rises up in tufts not unlike the crest of a rooster.
Arsul where will his wife go after the girl dies?
Arsul r pro 25
Eklem Arsul [pro: 25] 28 33 35
Jack "Arsul's the best, mate. he'll get you answers."
- Avery nods. "What band is your wife with, out of curiosity?"
Avery [unless I'd know that already.]
Dionysus "The Crystal Shapers," he says.
Arsul you would
Dionysus You see the sapphire going to seek another sapphire.
- Avery nods and makes small talk, trying to get him to relax a bit while Arsul does his work.
Dionysus He doesn't answer much.
Arsul can I tell where they meet in the vision?
Dionysus Just keeps staring at Arsul.
Dionysus Room 1002
- Arsul comes out of the trance. "Your wife is meeting someone in room 1002 soon."
Dionysus He jumps up and starts running
- Jack nods, relaxing a bit.
Arsul "I'm not certain you should seek her out alone.
Arsul "
Dionysus He doesn't stop.
Avery "Let's go."
Arsul he follows the man closely
- Jack bolts after him. "AY! don't be stupid!"
- Avery goes with them.
Dionysus "My wife!"
Jack "COOL IT YOU <filter rertard>!"
Dionysus He's rushing up the stairs, and stops at about floor five, exhausted. "My... wife."
Jack "You don't know what's goin' on. She just disappears and is meetin' someone?"
Jack "Come on. We're here to help. Stay with us."
Arsul "I'm sorry. She's been drifting."
Dionysus "Dr--huh?"
Avery "Arsul, can you lead the way? We should keep moving. I've got a bad feeling about this."
Jack and I thought the stairs went straight to the floor.
Dionysus No.
Dionysus They go up each flight
Jack oh. got it.
Dionysus And down, they go down straight to the bottom floor
Dionysus You reach the tenth floor, and find 1002. Ramon Jericho is 1001. 1002 is Divara, the nymphish judge.
Dionysus Bantam pauses, looking to Arsul, clearly anxious.
- Jack stands ready
- Avery reaches out with wealth sense to see if more than one person is in 1002, on the basis that he could sense people on the same floor as him before.
Arsul "She will be here soon if she's not inside already."
Dionysus Two highly valuable people are in the room, Avery
- Jack paces like a caged tiger.
Avery "I think she's in there...at least, there are two people in that room."
Avery "Jack, take your cousin and go get Aurelia, she'll be able to tell better than me who's in there. ARsul and I will keep an eye on things here."
Jack "Right-o. come on."
Arsul "Or you could knock."
Dionysus Bantam hesitates.
- Avery glances at Arsul. "Think it'd be ebtter?"
Arsul "I don't know. But if she's in there I'm sure you'll be able to tell with the door open."
- Jack starts to say something but clamps down on hiimself.
- Avery hesitates, then nods. "Alright."
Dionysus Bantam kinda looks around, and starts to rethink the general intelligence of his newfound companions. He steps forward, saying, "I'll knock."
Dionysus And he does. A moment, then a nymph answers the door, "Yes?"
Dionysus It's the judge.
Dionysus Bantam gulps, "Err, is my wife inside?"
- Jack prepares a rythm by tapping his foot gently.
Dionysus She smiles, and it's a winning smile, "I'm afraid not..." She opens the door, and there's no one visible within. Avery, you still sense another person, a female. Probably a nymph.
- Avery frowns. he leans over to Jack and Arsul, whispering "there's still someone in there...I can sense them...are my eyes going again?"
- Jack thinks about that.
Arsul I assume I can smell her.
Dionysus You can smell perfume and nymphish sweat, yes.
Arsul "There is another nymph in there.
Arsul "
Arsul Why is she hiding the other?
Dionysus The judge frowns, "Excuse me? I could detract points from you if you countermand me again."
Arsul r pro 25
Eklem Arsul [pro: 25] 31 32 33
Dionysus You see Bantam and the sapphire's breaking bond
Arsul Does she know about the moster and the child?
Arsul r pro 25
Eklem Arsul [pro: 25] 26 33 35
Arsul monster
Dionysus You see the jewel before you with a thorn through her heart
Arsul "We should go."
- Jack puts a hand on Bantam's shoulder. "Come on, mate. We gotcher back."
Dionysus Bantam frowns, then looks to Jack.
- Jack looks dead serious.
- Avery nods a little and offers the nymphish judge a bow. "Sorry for disturbing you." he looks at the others and heads back downstairs.
- Jack pulls him along firmly.
Jack like a bodyguard.
Avery Once we have privacy, "What did you see, Arsul?"
Dionysus She closes the door.
Dionysus Bantam follows.
- Arsul frowns. "They've both been influenced by a 'thorn'. I assume it's a Cuniaid."
- Avery mutters a soft curse. "We need to tell Arlie."
Jack "Stay with us, mate. THis is big."
Arsul "I'm sorry." he says to Bantam
Dionysus Bantam shakes his head, looking shocked
- Avery moves to the lead as they proceed downstairs, barely not running.
- Jack guards Bantam
Jack and reads crowd as soon as we get downstairs.
Dionysus There's no one else on the stairwell at the moment
Dionysus You reach the first floor in one flight
Dionysus Sue, Arlie, you enter the building and start searching the quarters?
Arlie_B yes.
Arlie_B quietly, if we can.
Dionysus Floor by floor?
Arlie_B we'll stop and have Jemora try and roll the floor number we should go to?
Dionysus dice d12
Eklem 10 | [d12=10]
Dionysus "Tenth floor, it says."
Arlie_B "Let's start there, then."
Dionysus The tenth floor is a bit of a long trek, but once there, you find it quiet.
Dionysus Orogrim used to be on this floor, and his former slaves are still here.
Dionysus The nymphish judge's room is here.
Dionysus And up here are Asad windkin's rooms, as well as Argast Taern's rooms
- Arlie_B looks about for the magical signature.
Dionysus Ramon Jericho's room, the Sather's room.
Dionysus You don't see any hunt magic here
Arlie_B "Start in the nymph judge's room, Arsul mentioned she had a thorn in her heart."
Dionysus Jemora glances at it, then says, "I'll keep look out on the stairs."
- Sue walks up to the door and listens.
- Arlie_B creeps slowly towards the door
Dionysus You hear nothing within
- Arlie_B tries the door and opens it if he can.
Arlie_B he steps inside and looks about.
Dionysus An elegant room
Dionysus Definitely the kind of room you expect of a nymph
Dionysus No one seems to be in it
Arlie_B not a sign of the hunt magic?
Dionysus None
Arlie_B "This isn't my first time raiding a nyphm's room. Ah, university." Arlie checks about quickly, looking for anything particularily magical."
Arlie_B no "
Dionysus A sapphir eheart holy symbol is not magical, but you do see it in the room. Nothing magical otherwise stands out beyond the background magic of this place
Sue Anything voidy?
Dionysus Not a bit
Sue Any documents?
Dionysus A love holy book, some judicial notes, a love letter from Ramon Jericho, torn up.
Arlie_B "I can't see anything in here. We'll come back here later."
- Sue steps outside.
- Arlie_B checks the unoccupied rooms first, on the floor, then he listens at the doors of the other rooms.
Dionysus Where to now?
Sue "How does this gamble-prophesy work?"
Dionysus Nothing in the unoccupied rooms. You can hear people in four of the six former slaves' rooms, in one of Argast Taern's rooms (Lugash's), and in one of the Windkin rooms
Dionysus Jemora says, "if we're lucky, it tells us where to go."
Sue "What if we're not?"
Dionysus "Then we're wasting time?"
Arlie_B "The Father must not want us to find him this way. Toy? Can you make Irrosus's arrows turn around and chase him instead? Turn his arrows into a posse, and we'll follow the noise."
Dionysus The Toy whirrs, then says, "Guess what?"
Arlie_B "What?!"
Dionysus "Chicken butt!" and Jemora's ass becomes a chicken's. She glares at it, shocked and horrified.
- Sue peers at the chicken butt. "Does that mean it worked?"
Arlie_B "Aww, I liked her ass better the old way. Chickens make me nervous."
Arlie_B "If you don't mind me saying, Jemora,"
GrandGuignol
Copyright © by the contributing authors. All material on this collaboration platform is the property of the contributing authors.