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[ wherever you were before, you're not there now. stepping out from the place you're calling "home" in the bustling market of ahnkeen, or browsing the wares of the market itself. exploring the world this week. simply being. it's you, and it's your daemon, and you are in a place with air so thick it's cloying, but a cold sweat is easy to feel, tacky on your skin.
the city the four of you and your souls stand within is covered in ash, ancient ruins that have been left behind with a looming tower of a mountain standing over everything. from its peak billows smoke and more ash - while this city has been cleared by a disaster long since past, the source of it still lives in that distance.
there is a skittering to be heard, off and on, under the muffled footfalls that you cause as you try to reorient yourselves to the new situation.
the source is unknown. the noise is hard to pinpoint.
any attempts to check out a direction that isn't related to a mountainous journey will come up with dead ends - a deep chasm, where you'd better watch your step; an endless barren wasteland with no shelter, no life, no trees, nothing; more of the city, all of it in ruins, the skittering and scratching louder.
take a moment to get your bearings. the mountain calls, but the pull doesn't hold too much sway, yet. ]
the city the four of you and your souls stand within is covered in ash, ancient ruins that have been left behind with a looming tower of a mountain standing over everything. from its peak billows smoke and more ash - while this city has been cleared by a disaster long since past, the source of it still lives in that distance.
there is a skittering to be heard, off and on, under the muffled footfalls that you cause as you try to reorient yourselves to the new situation.
the source is unknown. the noise is hard to pinpoint.
any attempts to check out a direction that isn't related to a mountainous journey will come up with dead ends - a deep chasm, where you'd better watch your step; an endless barren wasteland with no shelter, no life, no trees, nothing; more of the city, all of it in ruins, the skittering and scratching louder.
take a moment to get your bearings. the mountain calls, but the pull doesn't hold too much sway, yet. ]
[Oh, ugh. The change from the hot, dry deserts to wherever they are now is immediately noticeable to Alisaie, sweat cold and clammy on her skin in the sudden humidity. Thankfully she and Taf have been doing a lot of working together over the past few days, so while she's still blind and entirely without direction in this new place, she has a general sense of her surroundings.
As well as the people around her.
Alisaie frowns, resting a hand on her hip.]
Well. It seems as though it is our turn to undertake some grand adventure outside the city. Let us pray we don't return in the same condition as the others have.
As well as the people around her.
Alisaie frowns, resting a hand on her hip.]
Well. It seems as though it is our turn to undertake some grand adventure outside the city. Let us pray we don't return in the same condition as the others have.
Tch, it's about time. [ Akira had already been going without his jacket this week, and at least he's familiar with this type of heat thanks to Tokyo summers. It'd be better if he didn't have a boa of the non-feather kind around his neck, but fur in the heat is just terrible. Nagako scents the air with her forked tongue and a low hiss. ]
[van Zieks has been sour all week, possibly because he is in no way prepared for the heat. He likes layers and clearly gets absolutely no sun with how pale he is. At this point he's caved to the heat enough to be down to just his dress shirt and pants. He's scowling at the sudden, incredibly ominous scenery.
Without saying anything, he moves to stick close to Alisaie. Adelheid, as a harpy eagle, takes wing to survey the scenery from as high up as she can stand to go away from van Zieks, which isn't much, but it's something.]
It seems like there was some sort of volcanic eruption. The most dangerous thing would be to get closer to that mountain, which makes me feel that's probably our intended destination.
[The tired pessimism of a man who has fucking Had It.]
Without saying anything, he moves to stick close to Alisaie. Adelheid, as a harpy eagle, takes wing to survey the scenery from as high up as she can stand to go away from van Zieks, which isn't much, but it's something.]
It seems like there was some sort of volcanic eruption. The most dangerous thing would be to get closer to that mountain, which makes me feel that's probably our intended destination.
[The tired pessimism of a man who has fucking Had It.]
Don't worry, I'll keep you safe.
[This is to Alisaie in particular, because of her punishment from last trial. Akira and van Zieks whomst.
The stickiness is annoying but Rin can tolerate it, for now. It looks like they'll be moving on anyway. Rin gets the feeling that staying in this town isn't for the best.]
Hey, who knows. Maybe we're supposed to do something about the volcano.
[What the hell can they even do about a volcano? They'll find out, he's sure.]
[This is to Alisaie in particular, because of her punishment from last trial. Akira and van Zieks whomst.
The stickiness is annoying but Rin can tolerate it, for now. It looks like they'll be moving on anyway. Rin gets the feeling that staying in this town isn't for the best.]
Hey, who knows. Maybe we're supposed to do something about the volcano.
[What the hell can they even do about a volcano? They'll find out, he's sure.]
You'll what? [Oops don't tell Alisaie that she needs to be protected.] I can look after myself!
[Scowling, she turns to allow Taf on her shoulders a better glimpse of the ruins around them.]
Heading toward the mountain will likely be our intended destination, but mayhap we should look around here first. We may be able to find aught that can tell us about what happened.
[Scowling, she turns to allow Taf on her shoulders a better glimpse of the ruins around them.]
Heading toward the mountain will likely be our intended destination, but mayhap we should look around here first. We may be able to find aught that can tell us about what happened.
You just got zapped last weekend! If you're having a hard time let us help, okay?
[Look let him worry about someone who got punished and passed out. He worry.]
Blood, right.
...what WAS that thing you did with the blood before?
[Rin will go with the group but he's keeping pace with Akira for now so he can hear the answer to his question, if Akira decides to answer.]
[Look let him worry about someone who got punished and passed out. He worry.]
Blood, right.
...what WAS that thing you did with the blood before?
[Rin will go with the group but he's keeping pace with Akira for now so he can hear the answer to his question, if Akira decides to answer.]
If I need assistance, I will ask for it.
[She will NOT. ("not let him worry or not ask--") She will NOT!!
Instead, she's going to turn, allowing Taf to direct her toward some rubble that looks promising. She's definitely walking at a slower pace compared to her usual power-walk, but she seems to be making her way fine--
Until she steps on a pile of ash that hasn't settled as much as the rest of it has, her foot sliding out from under her in an instant.
Alisaie, meet the ground. You are now sitting on it.]
[She will NOT. ("not let him worry or not ask--") She will NOT!!
Instead, she's going to turn, allowing Taf to direct her toward some rubble that looks promising. She's definitely walking at a slower pace compared to her usual power-walk, but she seems to be making her way fine--
Until she steps on a pile of ash that hasn't settled as much as the rest of it has, her foot sliding out from under her in an instant.
Alisaie, meet the ground. You are now sitting on it.]
[ doo de doo! there doesn't seem to be much... here? at least, not at first, so no one witnessed alisaie eating shit besides the three lads and the four daemons. everything is an eerie silence, ash thick in the air, kicked up from their movements and drifting slow from the distance.
skittering and scratching and... chittering seems to increase, before scurrying away when they get closer to a particular set of rubble in their quest to meander along.
in all this washed out grey, brown, and ruddy red darkness, there's a peek of color coming from within the ruins. investigate? ]
skittering and scratching and... chittering seems to increase, before scurrying away when they get closer to a particular set of rubble in their quest to meander along.
in all this washed out grey, brown, and ruddy red darkness, there's a peek of color coming from within the ruins. investigate? ]
Edited 2021-10-19 00:49 (UTC)
[She's scowling as she's brought back up to her feet by Akira and van Zieks.]
Only my pride is injured.
[MOVING ON--]
At least we may be sure this land is inhabited by something... has anyone seen aught living other than us so far?
[She's focused on the noises right now, being the sense she can rely on, and so she doesn't see the color from the ruins. Should one of the others point it out, though, she'll follow them to investigate!]
Only my pride is injured.
[MOVING ON--]
At least we may be sure this land is inhabited by something... has anyone seen aught living other than us so far?
[She's focused on the noises right now, being the sense she can rely on, and so she doesn't see the color from the ruins. Should one of the others point it out, though, she'll follow them to investigate!]
[ van zieks heading for the interior - which he can see through a partially fallen and damaged wall - will mean that he can see a mural of some kind within this building, ceilings tall and ash a fine dust over everything.
but there's a shimmer of gold dust, familiar amongst everything, across the wall, as well.
the skittering comes closer again. those not investigating the inside of the building will get to see... black, furry little shapes, with beady red eyes. there are many of them. they are all watching. they are all chittering, and it strangely seems to sound like words. hard to make out what it is, at first, as you don't recognize the language. but it starts to bleed into your awareness, as if the auto-translate that's allowed you all to communicate with one another across languages barriers is slow to pick up... ]
Save ҉me̵ sa̡vę m͡e S͞ÁVE̡ ME̢ SAVE̴ M͘E..!̧!̡
[ ... in a chorus of miserable, human voices. ]
but there's a shimmer of gold dust, familiar amongst everything, across the wall, as well.
the skittering comes closer again. those not investigating the inside of the building will get to see... black, furry little shapes, with beady red eyes. there are many of them. they are all watching. they are all chittering, and it strangely seems to sound like words. hard to make out what it is, at first, as you don't recognize the language. but it starts to bleed into your awareness, as if the auto-translate that's allowed you all to communicate with one another across languages barriers is slow to pick up... ]
Save ҉me̵ sa̡vę m͡e S͞ÁVE̡ ME̢ SAVE̴ M͘E..!̧!̡
[ ... in a chorus of miserable, human voices. ]
[What are those...? Taf isn't certain, and so she can't be either, but she can get an idea of them (larger than he is) and there's no way not to hear their voices as they translate into speech, resonating.]
Oh, gods--what are you? Were you once--human?
[...look.]
Oh, gods--what are you? Were you once--human?
[...look.]
Nice, nice. [ Sarcastic as ever as soon as he spots the gold dust, looking up at the murals to get a better sense of what exactly happened here. And then he hears the voices even if he can't see them from here, Nagako circling around him, agitated. ]
Fucking great, actually. How good's your memory? [ That's at Van Zieks because it really doesn't sound like they're gonna have time to investigate this mural properly. ]
Fucking great, actually. How good's your memory? [ That's at Van Zieks because it really doesn't sound like they're gonna have time to investigate this mural properly. ]
[HM. CONCERNING.]
That hardly matters.
[He's pulling that stupid pink camera out of his bag. Loading some film. He's willing to get a bit closer since the horrible creatures aren't so far aggressive but he's certainly not going to linger. He's going to try to get close enough to get two good pictures of the mural.]
That hardly matters.
[He's pulling that stupid pink camera out of his bag. Loading some film. He's willing to get a bit closer since the horrible creatures aren't so far aggressive but he's certainly not going to linger. He's going to try to get close enough to get two good pictures of the mural.]
[nope nope nope NOPE NOPE NOPE
Rin is immediately pulling his sword off of his shoulder, ready to draw it to defend himself if the creatures get any closer. Rinkou has also shifted to wolverine form and is hissing at the creatures.
Then, with eyes still on the creatures, he calls out to the two in the building:]
OI! You better get back out here, we've got company!
Rin is immediately pulling his sword off of his shoulder, ready to draw it to defend himself if the creatures get any closer. Rinkou has also shifted to wolverine form and is hissing at the creatures.
Then, with eyes still on the creatures, he calls out to the two in the building:]
OI! You better get back out here, we've got company!
[ the mural is from floor to ceiling, an old thing - but new, at the same time, somehow? it seems to layer in your vision, like an illusion image, but it's the fresh one that sticks in your minds and is visible on the photos that van zieks takes with the polaroid. he won't be able to make them out until they've developed, of course, but he and akira can get enough of a good look.
a vertical triptych, depicting a beautiful garden full of green, lush plants in the bottom frame. but as it rises to each of the following two frames, the destruction is apparent as the skies turn dark, then red, and a figure descends from the sky in a luminance of gold, haloed and winged. a tree ascends from the bottom frame across all three, healthy and vibrant until it is barren and bleached and just as desolate as the sky in the topmost frame.
the rats come closer. they are bigger than they thought, from a distance. their eyes are still beady, and still red, and their teeth are horrible and rotten as they open their mouths to speak in their terrible, human voices. there's an overlap, here, too. you'll hear them say at the same time: ]
Y̢o҉ur Ro̸y͏al H͜i̛g̢hne͞s̸s͠ ҉-҉ Ýo̷uŕ Hig͢h́nes̷ş,͢ p̴ļease, Your ̀H͜igh҉nesş,̕ ̕save m̵e ́şa̶ve͜ m̸e̴ ̕save ̢m҉e!!̡!
[ and: ]
Go͡ḑ ͏hav͝é ͘me͡rcy,͠ pl̨e͜a̕se, ͠pl̵e̕as͝e̷, l҉e̡t me ŕep̵e͡nt̡, ̧O͜ L̷ord̢.̨.͏!
[ and then they scream, and en masse descend on the group. ]
a vertical triptych, depicting a beautiful garden full of green, lush plants in the bottom frame. but as it rises to each of the following two frames, the destruction is apparent as the skies turn dark, then red, and a figure descends from the sky in a luminance of gold, haloed and winged. a tree ascends from the bottom frame across all three, healthy and vibrant until it is barren and bleached and just as desolate as the sky in the topmost frame.
the rats come closer. they are bigger than they thought, from a distance. their eyes are still beady, and still red, and their teeth are horrible and rotten as they open their mouths to speak in their terrible, human voices. there's an overlap, here, too. you'll hear them say at the same time: ]
Y̢o҉ur Ro̸y͏al H͜i̛g̢hne͞s̸s͠ ҉-҉ Ýo̷uŕ Hig͢h́nes̷ş,͢ p̴ļease, Your ̀H͜igh҉nesş,̕ ̕save m̵e ́şa̶ve͜ m̸e̴ ̕save ̢m҉e!!̡!
[ and: ]
Go͡ḑ ͏hav͝é ͘me͡rcy,͠ pl̨e͜a̕se, ͠pl̵e̕as͝e̷, l҉e̡t me ŕep̵e͡nt̡, ̧O͜ L̷ord̢.̨.͏!
[ and then they scream, and en masse descend on the group. ]
Edited (snow don't typo something CYOA challenge.. 2!) 2021-10-19 02:44 (UTC)
[They don't seem to understand. That's the first realization.
The second is that they're in trouble, as the rats descend.]
We need to move! Do any of you see something that might slow them?
[Not that there are many places where rats can't reach you. Alisaie swears, then grabs for her rapier. She doesn't trust herself to actually fight with it, not like this, but even if she can only take simple measured stabs toward the ground, it's more than standing there useless.
If nothing else, she can use it against any that try to latch on to her.]
The second is that they're in trouble, as the rats descend.]
We need to move! Do any of you see something that might slow them?
[Not that there are many places where rats can't reach you. Alisaie swears, then grabs for her rapier. She doesn't trust herself to actually fight with it, not like this, but even if she can only take simple measured stabs toward the ground, it's more than standing there useless.
If nothing else, she can use it against any that try to latch on to her.]
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