The Alien Wars 6: Da Capo

Session 338






Session Start: Mon Sep 10 14:58:29 2018
Session Ident: #TAW-Session338
* Now talking in #TAW-Session338
* nova.esper.net sets mode: +nt
* Retrieving #TAW-Session338 modes...
* DeathStar changes topic to 'Still winning'
* Stretch`cell has joined #TAW-Session338
* ChadWinters has joined #TAW-Session338
* Sara has joined #TAW-Session338
* DeathStar mewls
* Xanatos has joined #TAW-Session338
* Seraphna has joined #TAW-Session338
<DeathStar> Uh
<DeathStar> *tosses Sara into a fluffy basket*
<DeathStar> Item
* Jackieness has joined #TAW-Session338
* Seraphna feeds Sara
<DeathStar> 1
* Jackieness does the thing?
* ChadWinters picks his teeth at the item
* Orthogon has joined #TAW-Session338
<DeathStar> 3. We hit our number
<DeathStar> 4
<DeathStar> 3
<DeathStar> 2
<DeathStar> 1
<DeathStar> -0-
<DeathStar> Date: 10-639.4.8 (midnightish)
<DeathStar> Location: Nar Cartella or Whatever Name Sera Came Up With
<DeathStar> 6* Taiga's team has gathered, along with any stray characters that might want to take this time to join us after not being around for a while. (hint hint). Lorelei joins them, taking the place of Sabrina since it looks risky, and Yuki puts on a sexy outfit for this mission
<DeathStar> 6* Tight leather and puts her hair in a ponytail. Taiga just wears baggy clothes and a hood and Lorelei wears a white sainly outfit for this underground club
<Jackieness> <Airym> "What are the parameters for this mission?"
<ChadWinters> 6Cel has on a hoody and pants, covering up her tact suit underneath.
<Seraphna> * Cookie wears her usual tactical suit, skintight, and a trenchcoat.
<DeathStar> <Taiga> Try to talk our way into the club. And learn more about the underground fighting and see if any of our targets are running it
<Jackieness> <Airym> "It is fortunate that I was prepared with a party dress of my own design and manufacture."
<DeathStar> *Yuki steps out and eyes everyone in their baggy clothes, then her outfit*
<DeathStar> <Yuki> Seriously?
<ChadWinters> <Cel Less conspicious.
<Sara> * Erica is in a fancy Chinese style dress. "Some people..."
<Seraphna> Cookie> What? This is practically painted on.
<DeathStar> *Mireille walks out dressed like Erica, spinning in her dress*
<Orthogon> <Rada> I never learned how to dress for these things.
<DeathStar> <Yuki> W-Why did no one tell me? It's a fight club!
<DeathStar> <Yuki> I dressed to look bad ass!
<Jackieness> <Airym> "I call it 'Silhouette' as the white plastic will show my silhouette when lit from behind."
<Seraphna> Cookie> Well, there's both fighters and an audience. We can cover both.
<DeathStar> <Taiga> I do have a dress on underneath
<DeathStar> <Taiga> Just to be safe
<DeathStar> *Taiga pats her baggy clothes*
<DeathStar> *Taiga turns to Rada* Welcome Rada
<ChadWinters> <Cel> I should probably switch out...
<DeathStar> *Yuki sulks behind Erica*
<Jackieness> <Airym> "I shall use my organic studies to use flattery and attention to gather information."
<DeathStar> *Lorelei hums in her saintly like outfit, looking more like she's otu for a picnic*
<Xanatos> 6* Pepper looks the same as she always does, though her jumpsuit is now purple and she sips from a bottle of lemonade.
<Seraphna> * Cookie peers down the jumpsuit.
<DeathStar> <Taiga> Everyone ready?
<ChadWinters> <Cel> I guess so.
<DeathStar> *Taiga turns to Cookie and Erica* Lead the way
<Seraphna> * Cookie nods and moves to walk along, putting an arm around Pepper to walk with.
<Sara> * Erica follows after Cookie with a shrug.
<ChadWinters> 6Cel follows along with the group
<DeathStar> *Mireille hums, spinning along. Taiga nods to Chris, letting her come along if she wants, as well, since her data has downloaded but Taiga hasn't had time to send someone to grab the mask from the asteroid yet*
<Orthogon> <Rada ambulates in the general direction of the party>
<Jackieness> <Airym> *walks along*
<Jackieness> <Airym> *looks at Rada* "Were you injured in any way during your encounter with the empress?"
<Orthogon> <Rada> Well, yes but I was healed pretty swiftly after. But I can't say it didn't leave any lingering pain.
<DeathStar> *Yuki tugs at her leather while Taiga studies Rada*
<Sara> * Erica eyes Yuki's outfit
<Jackieness> <Airym> "Do you require post-trauma psychological counseling?"
<Xanatos> <Pepper> The streets are in distress. The sun soffocates behind darkened skies~~ 6* She sings under her breath as they walk.
<Orthogon> <Rada> Psychological? I'll take 400mg of ibuprofen if you have it.
<DeathStar> *Yuki peers up and blushes* I-Is it dumb? *she asks, eyeing the skin tight leather*
<Seraphna> * Cookie blinks a bit, walking along with her. <Dreary words but a beautiful voice.>
<DeathStar> *Mireille dances around in her matching outfit to Erica*
<Jackieness> <Airym> "Unfortunately, I can not be of assistance in providing ancient pain suppressors."
<Xanatos> <Pepper> <Feeling REAL angsty tonight.>
<Xanatos> 6* Pepper smirks and winks
<DeathStar> *the team soon arrives at what looks to be a wine shop*
<DeathStar> *that is still open, but a few people are going to the back of the shop*
<Orthogon> <Rada> I didn't realize we were traveling on Durt's behalf.
<Seraphna> Cookie> <We'll have to do something about that later.> *she smiles and peers around, moving towards the back of the shop casually*
<ChadWinters> 6Cel peers around casually as she moves inside with the others
<DeathStar> *the people order a certain drink from the back of the shop, get the drink and a receipt and go off*
<DeathStar> *why not go to the front of the shop?*
<DeathStar> <Taiga> Strange?
<Jackieness> <Airym> "Their efforts are suprisingly clumsy."
<Sara> <Erica> It's *obviously* a code, Taiga. Like, so blatant I want to cry.
<DeathStar> <Taiga> True. So maybe there's something else to it
<Seraphna> Cookie> It's likely the front is kept unaware so they can't give anything away by accident.
<DeathStar> *right now there's no one else going to the back so the guy goes into the back of the store, shutting the door for now*
<DeathStar> <Taiga> So do we wait for another customer to order something, or try it now?
<ChadWinters> <Cel> Do we know which drink they ordered?
<DeathStar> <Taiga> Yeah. I saw it
<Xanatos> <Pepper> Wait for another, define a pattern.
<DeathStar> *they team waits for --- and waits. During it, Mireille does a dance for Erica, doing an ancient dance from Earth that she learned on the Aquarius from the asian part of the world*
<DeathStar> *Lorelei claps*
<Sara> * Erica yawns
<ChadWinters> <Cel> It might be best to just go at this point.
<Sara> <Erica> Pretty much. Not sure what we're really waiting for.
<DeathStar> *Mireille pauses and sits with that reaction, sad. AT that moment someone goes to the back*
<Xanatos> <Pepper> Then get a move on captain sass ass.
<Jackieness> <Airym> "Recording."
<Sara> * Erica quietly takes a note of something.
<Seraphna> * Cookie peers over, listening to surface thoughts to see if they think out anything they need to do as someone might when doing something secret.
<DeathStar> *Mire watches as the man knocks twice and says something, then orders the drink and follows it up with something else. The man then hands the drink over and the customer pays for it. Cookie would get the sense there is a code word for the drink to get the true receipt with the location of the club*
<DeathStar> *else you just get a bogus one*
<Seraphna> Cookie> *low* There's a code word.
<DeathStar> <Taiga> I'm half tempted to rob the guy with the drink
<ChadWinters> 6Cel peers at Taiga
<Seraphna> Cookie> If you take it I can try and make him forget?
<DeathStar> <Taiga> ... can you do that?
<Orthogon> <Rada> (Hm. I wonder if it's the same code each time or if it varies depending on a factor.)
<Sara> <Erica> I mean if you want, but my official story will be that we've never seen you before, if you're caught.
<DeathStar> <Taiga> ... no. Lets not. Did you get the code word?
<DeathStar> <Taiga> When they were talking?
<DeathStar> <Taiga> Or do we need to wait for another person
<Seraphna> Cookie> The same trick that I used to scramble brains, just intentionally weak. Just that he was using a code word... sometimes people think like that.
<Seraphna> Cookie> Someone has to listen in.
<DeathStar> *Taiga grabs her hair.*
<DeathStar> <Taiga> The guy with the drink will likely be thinkig about it
<DeathStar> <Taiga> Come on. *she moves to the door*
<Orthogon> <Rada> (A different code every time would prevent simple eavesdropping like this.)
<Sara> * Erica rubs her temples
<DeathStar> <Taiga> And don't mess up on reading him, Cookie
<Seraphna> * Cookie nods and moves along.
<ChadWinters> 6Cel follows with Taiga
<DeathStar> *Mireille stays back, as does Lorelei*
<DeathStar> *Taiga knocks twice and the guy in the back opens the door and eyes them. She eyes the list of drinks and points at the right one*
<DeathStar> <Taiga> I want that one
<Seraphna> * Cookie listens in on his thoughts.
<ChadWinters> 6Cel hangs outside with the others, staying out of sight a bit
<DeathStar> *Cookie would read that he is suspicious and waiting on the code word: produce. It seems the other guy had the word mold*
<DeathStar> *both are bouncing around. Also thoughts about food*
<Seraphna> * Cookie whispers it into Taiga's thoughts.
<DeathStar> *he'd like some cake. Right now. Is someone in the corner. He eyes the corner where Rada and the others are at*
<DeathStar> <Taiga> The word is produce. *the guy pauses in looking and eyes Taiga again and bags the drink up and hands her a receipt* 10 credits. *she pays and moves out*
<DeathStar> *After the door shuts Lorelei and Mireille rejoin TAiga*
<Seraphna> * Cookie moves out with her.
<Xanatos> 6* Pepper meets up with them
<Orthogon> *Rada also*
<DeathStar> *Taiga hands the receipt to Erica*
<ChadWinters> 6Cel slips out from her spot and rejoins them
<Sara> * Erica takes a picture of it after checking it
<DeathStar> *it has an address on it that isn't the store*
<DeathStar> *nearby at least*
<Jackieness> <Airym> "Ah, the location likly moves and this front is for distributing the location of the moment to their guests."
<DeathStar> <Taiga> Makes sense
<DeathStar> <Taiga> Alright, Erica is leading the way
<Sara> * Erica heads out
<DeathStar> *she follows, since Taiga looks like a 17 year old and Erica looks like the adult*
<DeathStar> *After a bit they arrive at the place and paying 100 credits each, they walk down some steps to an underground club. There's no music. There's barely any lighting here: there's a bar, around 500 people, and a makeshift arena set up. Two fighters with collars that look much like the offical tournament but there is something different about them*
<Jackieness> <Airym> *moves with the team*
<DeathStar> *Yuki looks around the dark underground tournament and all the people and Mire moves to sit at the bar*
<Seraphna> * Cookie looks on with interest.
<DeathStar> <Lorelei> Hmmm.... *she glances about*
<Sara> * Erica keeps an eye on Mireille...
<ChadWinters> <Cel> Something seems off
<Jackieness> <Airym> "I would posit that these games are for providing that which the official games take pains to prevent."
<DeathStar> *Mirei peers about and talks to the bartender, asking questions about the place and motions, trying to act like a cute kid; as one of the fighters beats the other, instead of stimulating damage like in the offical tournament, this collar does true damage, shocking the other opponet*
<Jackieness> <Airym> "Blood and death."
<DeathStar> *until finally when their HP hits 0 it kills the one the fighter*
<DeathStar> <Lorelei> ... Oh my
<Jackieness> <Airym> "You may wish to reconsider any desire to compete."
<Sara> <Erica> Collar seems kinda superfluous at that point...
<ChadWinters> 6Cel keeps a straight face, the death of the person not reflecting on her face. 1"So that's the route."
<DeathStar> *the arena seems to be set up so no magic attacks hit the audience and the collars absorb the damage - literally*
<DeathStar> *the announcer declares the winner, and they carefully take these odd collars off each of them and move off with them - they look nearly identical like the real things outside some modifications. One would think the Cartel themselves made them*
<Xanatos> <Pepper> Wish I could say this was my first underground fight club to the death.
<Seraphna> Cookie> One could... really damage the tournament if those wound up around a legit fighters neck.
<Jackieness> <Airym> "I would posit that the collar is used to accelerate the inevitable."
<DeathStar> <Taiga> I wonder more and more about these collars
<ChadWinters> <Cel> How so?
<DeathStar> <Taiga> Just in the main tournament we saw how much they could do, right?
<DeathStar> <Taiga> Let all sorts of fighters compete
<DeathStar> <Taiga> And now we see blood sports with them
<ChadWinters> <Cel> They do seem pretty flexible in their uses
<Xanatos> <Pepper> The collar companies must be making a lot of money.
<DeathStar> *Yuki muses and sees the announcer call for any volunteers to challenge the champ*
<DeathStar> <Taiga> I do wonder who makes them
<ChadWinters> <Cel> I imagine they might've started about two years ago.
<Sara> <Erica> And what their real goal is...
<DeathStar> <Taiga> Airym, can you look into it for us when you have time
<DeathStar> <Taiga> Since Gor is in bed
<Jackieness> <Airym> "I can do so, yes."
<DeathStar> *Yuki watches the two collars be sent into the back of the underground club. Right now the patrons are busy talking about what they just saw and hoping to see more. The "champ" is allowed to go into a booth with some beautiful women to relax*
<DeathStar> <Taiga> For now I'm going to go around and talk since I suddenly do not feel like competing. You all can do what you feel is best
<DeathStar> *she moves off into the crowd*
<ChadWinters> <Cel> I wonder who's running this thing.
<DeathStar> *Yuki glances at Erica*
<Jackieness> <Airym> *moves to the bar, leaning against one end to blend in as eye candy while she tries to get a wireless connection set up*
<DeathStar> <Lorelei> Hm. Well, *she points at the arena where some people are setting up stuff* There is some of the workers. There is also a back room where the collars were taken
<Sara> <Erica> Much as I like punching people, I'm not a fan of killing for sport.
<DeathStar> <Lorelei> If you wanted to learn more from the employees there might be where to start, Cel
<Seraphna> * Cookie closes her eyes, doing her best to quiet the room for herself. Mentally.
<Xanatos> 6* Pepper pinches Cookie on the ass then moves into the crowd to see if she can get someone to talk about the history of this thing. Wondering to herself how long it's been going.
<DeathStar> *Airym would find she can get into the wireless connection of nearby locations*
<DeathStar> *since this place does not seem to have one itself*
<Seraphna> * Cookie squeaks, centers on Pepper, and follows her around.
<ChadWinters> 6Cel nods and makes her way casually to the arena area, to start talking to the employees
<Jackieness> <Airym> *does some basic searches on information about the official games collars to start*
<DeathStar> *Yuki lets out a breath* Where do you want to start, Eri?
<DeathStar> *Pepper would find some women talking about what they just saw and wondering how legal this all is and if anyone else will compete*
<Sara> <Erica> Tough one. But one thing is bothering me: If the collars can be changed to allow death, one should hope the 'legit' ones don't get tampered with. *she cracks her knuckles* ...I wouldn't mind shutting this place down, though. Fighting for sport is a lot different than glorified excuses to murder someone.
<DeathStar> *Cel would find the arena employees cleaning it and talking about how well the champ did and how jealous they are, peering up at his booth now and again*
<DeathStar> <Yuki> After the others are done questioning it, how should we go about shutting it down?
<ChadWinters> <Cel> Hi. 6She waves at them. 1"H-How long has the champ been the champion?
<DeathStar> *Mirei finishes talking to the bartender and hops down with a drink - soda - offered to her. Surely it's safe and not tampered with*
<Seraphna> * Cookie muses a bit, listening to stray thoughts whenever Pepper talks to someone to see if she can glean anything else. She gives Erica a mental nudge about Mirei.
<DeathStar> *The employees peer up* Hm? About 5 months now. Longest winning streak
<Sara> <Erica> That is the million dollar question, isn't it? We'd need to know who really runs and owns the place.
<ChadWinters> <Cel> Oh? Wow that's impressive. How long has this been a thing? And what about the previous champs?
<Sara> <Erica> Or we can just beat everyone up, but I doubt that would exactly make a right, would it? *she looks around*
<DeathStar> *Yuki eyes the back where employees go, then the champ's booth, then looks for another private booth, seeing two VIP booths in the far far back*
<Sara> <Erica> Buncha idiots, all of 'em. What's the point in fighting for fun if you don't even get to enjoy the pain and come back to get even?
<Xanatos> <Pepper> Darlin, I think if this was legal we wouldn't need to jump through hoops to find our way here. 6* She tells who she is talking too.
<DeathStar> <Yuki> Agreed. *she hugs Erica* I saw she's in a booth or the back watching
<Seraphna> * Cookie gently puts a hand on Mirei since no one else has done anything and peers down at her. "Where'd you get that kiddo?"
<DeathStar> <Girl> You know, you are, like, so right. *she laughs* My boyfriend wanted to come here. I admit it's interesting but a little too brutual for me
<DeathStar> <Mirei> Bartender. *sips*
<Seraphna> * Cookie kneels down, "May I?"
<Sara> * Erica peers over where Yuki was looking, trying to discern this mystery person.
<Sara> <Erica> So, the owner, you think?
<DeathStar> *The employees talking to Cel think*
<DeathStar> <Employees> Not sure. We been working here only a few months. Not many people like to work here long
<Xanatos> <Pepper> It's a shame there's not something in the middle! The regular ones are so boring and these are just too much!
<ChadWinters> <Cel> I imagine it can be a lot to take in.
<DeathStar> <Yuki> Possible. Champ has his own booth. So unless it's a high paying client who else has one of those booths. And a guy like this would want a close up showing, right?
<DeathStar> <Girl> *she nods* Completely!
<Sara> * Erica decides to just go over and check on the booth directly and find out just what kind of person's in it for herself.
<Seraphna> * Cookie sniffs the drink, since alcohol actually shows up in the smell with soda as a chaser.
<DeathStar> *there's not alcohol in it, but definitely something in it to make one go to sleep. Likely because Mireille was asking questions - pointed questions. Perhaps so after Mire went to sleep he could bring her to the boss to be questioned herself*
<Seraphna> * Cookie gently picks her up and ducks into a booth, pouring the rest out into a plant or something. She then takes out a flask and shares it with Mirei. "Here."
<DeathStar> *Mireille yawns a bit and blinks* Eh?
<Seraphna> Cookie> Juice.
<DeathStar> *as Erica nears the booth, two security stop her. Erica would see a large man sitting there, on he comm talking to someone about the collars*
<Jackieness> <Airym> *observes the room while she look for information*
<DeathStar> *Airym meanwhile would learn about the collars:
<Xanatos> <Pepper> Any idea how long they've been doing this thing? Like, I only just heard about it this year but I could've swore I heard rumors about it years ago. But like, never sought it out until now.
<DeathStar> *she would learn that the collars are not part of a company but made as part of the Tournament that Loki himself created, a subsidiary run by a man's who face she doesn't recognize*
<DeathStar> *he makes all the collars for the tournaments*
<DeathStar> *Mire sips it*
<DeathStar> <Employees to Cel> It can be
<Sara> * Erica eyes the security who stopped her, deadpan
<Jackieness> <Airym> *tilts her head and then leaves the bar, looking for Taiga*
<DeathStar> *The valley girl chats with Pepper about the tournaments and the history of them*
<DeathStar> *and how she heard Loki made them*
<DeathStar> *he hangs up and the large bulky man eyes her* Are you the hooker I ordered?
<DeathStar> *he eyes Erica's body*
<DeathStar> *Yuki twitches behind Erica*
<Sara> <Erica> You the owner of this joint, then? Was supposed to be the owner.
<Sara> * Erica half plays along, inwardly irritated
<DeathStar> <Valley Girl> Well, Lord Loki I heard began it a year ago. No one knows why but I heard - supposedly he suffered an accident
<Xanatos> <Pepper> Oh my gosh are you serious? I haven't heard about that.
<DeathStar> <Valley Man> And he's been recovering from it for a few years now and his second in command suddenly began it a year ago. Out of the blue. To bring the Houses in line
<DeathStar> 8girl
<DeathStar> <Valley GIrl> But I just think it's for fun
<DeathStar> <Bulky Man> That's me. I normally go for petite girls but you look nice
<Jackieness> <Airym> "Taiga, I have learned something of potential value."
<ChadWinters> <Cel> Well thanks. 6She gives them a smile and moves back over to the bar, glancing at Erica contronting someone
<DeathStar> *Lorelei comes from the back with a collar*
<Xanatos> <Pepper> Well it's nice to see some OUTWARD competition from the houses for a change, right? 6* She laughs
<DeathStar> *Taiga looks up toward Airym*
<DeathStar> *the Valley Girl does that valley laugh*
<DeathStar> *looking around and tries to sneak out with it before she's caught*
<DeathStar> *Mireille hiccups, doing better*
<Jackieness> <Airym> "Is this a good time?"
<Sara> * Erica plays along and gets into the man's booth, for now, glancing around to see if he has anything with him
<DeathStar> <Taiga> Hit me with it
<DeathStar> *Erica would see a personal comm and datapad, with who knows what information on it. Perhaps contact lists, especially if he was talking to someone about collars*
<DeathStar> *the owner pats his lap*
<Seraphna> * Cookie smiles, her eyes widen a bit and she closes her eyes, activating Fae Dancer to increase Lore's Speed so she can move faster and get out of sight better.
<DeathStar> *Yuki's ears twitch as she watches, chewing on a napkin*
<Jackieness> <Airym> "While I do not have a name, I do have a face of the manfufacturer of the collars."
<DeathStar> *Lorelei steps out*
<Sara> * Erica suppresses her urge to cringe as she sits. <Clearly a creep if he orders hookers in the first place.>
<DeathStar> <Yuki> <Just becareful. I might leap over there and bite him if he does things to you>
<Seraphna> * Cookie then sits calmly, keeping Mirei close as she forms a Team Unity with her Telepathic Goddess, allowing everyone to coordinate and communicate using her as a hub. <Alright guys. Share information and keep a tab on each other's locations. Lore has a collar... so if they notice it missing there will be problems.>
<DeathStar> <Owner> *he grabs his comm, talking to someone else, groping Erica as he does* Listen, the collars work beautifully. I'd like more
<DeathStar> <Taiga> So there's a person that does it, not a company?
<DeathStar> <Yuki> <Auntie took one? Oh great. Who's free to keep an eye on her? Rada? Cel? Pepper?>
<Sara> * Erica stores the rage away for later. <The owner jerk's talking to whoever supplied the collars.> She eyes the man's datapad.
<Jackieness> <Airym> "It is a subsidiary of the tournament itself overseen by this one individual."
<Sara> <Erica> <With so little in this dump you might be able to trace it.>
<DeathStar> *Yuki grabs her datpad and begins to work on it*
<ChadWinters> 6Cel is at the bar, talking to a person.
<DeathStar> <Owner> *he pauses, listening to the voice* Huh? W-What? *He pales at something* What do you mean you plan to step up your plans? B-But I can test your collar more? I know the collars were made to download the fighter's abilities
<Sara> <Erica> <He seems to be panicking. *she relays what he's saying*>
<DeathStar> <Owner> Y-You no longer need to do that? Something came up yesterday? *he keeps playing with Erica, until something makes him stop* P-Please...I--- *Yuki pauses* *Erica's faint kitsune senses would tell her to get off his lap and Yuki actually jerks and warns her too*
<DeathStar> 5
<DeathStar> 4
<Sara> * Erica rolls
<DeathStar> 3
<DeathStar> *the comm sends out some signal that does something to the owner - a signal of some sort that makes the man grab his heart and he falls over - dead*
<DeathStar> *the two security people pause, confused and check him over*
<Sara> * Erica grabs his datapad in the confusion and bolts
<DeathStar> *Yuki eyes the comm's number she got while the security people pause, and one yells for her to stop*
<DeathStar> <Mirei> I think it's time for us to go... *She unsteadily gets up*
<Jackieness> <Airym> "Something is happening, Taiga."
<Sara> * Erica smirks. At least this is a little bit exciting. <Shame about the guy though. Should be in jail, not in a grave. Poor damn sap.>
<Seraphna> * Cookie takes Mirei and starts moving out with her. <Let's book it people.>
<ChadWinters> 6Cel glances at the commotion, eyeing Erica running
<DeathStar> *Taiga eyes the stuff going on* I think once we catch up we need to learn what each person learned
<DeathStar> -SCENE SHIFT-
<DeathStar> 6* After escaping, Lorelei has the modified collar down, Yuki has the number written down of the person the owner called - they learned what Pepper learned: Loki was damaged a few years ago and has been relying on his second in command, and now Erica's thing*
<Sara> * Erica of course relays everything the man said and how he died, plus hands over his data pad to Airym
<DeathStar> *Taiga has her arms crossed, motioning at everyone here* Thoughts. *she nods at Pepper, Rada, Yuki, Erica, Cel, Cookie, Mireille*
<Xanatos> <Pepper> So...Loki or his second in command or both are our shapeshifter, right?
<Jackieness> <Airym> "And I have the face of the one who builds the collars."
<Xanatos> <Pepper> Downloading fighter data though...that's pretty wild.
<DeathStar> <Taiga> So you think it's Loki or the second in command. <Yuki> But isn't this guy the person making the collar. *she points at the mysterious collar maker*
<Seraphna> Cookie> How do you download powers though?
<Xanatos> <Pepper> We're not just limited to one shapeshifter, right?
<Sara> <Erica> My thoughts are that these collars are damn shady. The entire tournament seems to be a front for some greater plan by getting data on strong people, but what, are they copying this data into something, like a robot or a person? Or even supplying it to the shapeshifters? *she nods to Cookie* It's a damn good question.
<ChadWinters> <Cel> Well if the second in command is the one that set all this up. It's possible he's the one making the moves. While the Collar maker is collecting the data for the shape shifters
<DeathStar> <Taiga> True.
<Jackieness> <Airym> "Sensors can record all manner of abilities. Even arcane energies are still energy."
<DeathStar> <Taiga> I might need to ask Ruby Carter for more information
<Orthogon> <Rada> What's more interesting is how they're able to reproduce abilities from the data.
<ChadWinters> <Cel> I gave her my info. 6She checks her datapad to see if she ever sent one back
<Sara> <Erica> Also, I'm going to need to shower for like 6 hours after today.
<DeathStar> <Taiga> Well, we do know the Cartel have been advancing in things lately like the anti-maka stuff
<Orthogon> <Rada> To copy abilities across people, species even...The receiver would have to be very versatile already.
<DeathStar> <Taiga> The collars might be helping them
<Xanatos> <Pepper> No way to trace back that call to see who specifically killed the owner guy, right?
<Sara> <Erica> Well they do have that evil Maka girl in the tournament... it's plausible that it's part of it.
<DeathStar> *Yuki taps the number* Got the number here
<Jackieness> <Airym> "It is possible, but could be dangerous."
<ChadWinters> <Cel> It's odd someone found a way to counter-act it. Even knew how to gather the sources.
<Jackieness> <Airym> "Similar ability analysis may have allowed them to detect a common thread that they coulkd exploit, weakening all maka"
<Sara> <Erica> Airym, I want you to see if there's any interesting information buried on the late club owner's datapad.
<DeathStar> *Taiga muses* So the tournament might be a ploy to get super powered beings here to learn their abilities; hence doing it so many times. *she eyes the collar* We need to study this to see if it's even really that effective
<DeathStar> <Taiga> It could be a dud
<Jackieness> <Airym> "Affirmative. It would be easier if Jelly or Gor were avialble to assist me, but i shall be careful."
<Sara> <Erica> Thanks. And yeah; I agree with your running theory, Taiga.
<ChadWinters> <Cel> You want someone to put it on?
<Jackieness> <Airym> *starts scanning the pad*
<Sara> <Erica> It's clearly a ploy to make something else stronger with what it learns.
<Xanatos> <Pepper> Should we get the kids to back out or is it already too late since they've fought once?
<DeathStar> <Taiga> I think we should just study it - this one clearly kills
<ChadWinters> <Cel> It is possible that if it's activated. We could track it to it's source
<DeathStar> <Taiga> Airym or Jelly, or Gor can take it apart and see if this thing even really records powers
<Sara> <Erica> I'd say there's a good chance they're all capable of it, if it's as shady as it seems.
<DeathStar> *Yuki sees if she can find the number listed anywhere
<Jackieness> <Airym> "I could do so once I finish scanning the data on this pad."
<Xanatos> <Pepper> Yeah if there's one manufacturor, they're probably all in danger if they wear them.
<DeathStar> <Yuki> The guy did say this person was moving onto the next phase
<DeathStar> <Yuki> What is the next phase?
<ChadWinters> <Cel> I'd rather not find out. Perhaps we should go after the manufacter warehouse.
<Sara> <Erica> A solid idea if we can find it.
<DeathStar> *Taiga peers at Rada* You mentioned receiver
<Seraphna> Cookie> If the tournament collars were made by him too, I think we'll find out tomorrow.
<Jackieness> <Airym> "Possibly uplod the gathered data into its intended recipient. It is possible that the earlier cancellation of the main tournament accelerated their plans."
<DeathStar> <Taiga> I agree, these collars are sending the data somewhere
<Jackieness> <Airym> "I shall see if the collar facility is on this datapad."
<Sara> <Erica> Ideally, we'll find it sooner rather than later. I'd rather no one else had to die, even if it's shitty types.
<DeathStar> <Taiga> I doubt it. But go over the datapad, we might learn information. Rada, will you assist me
<DeathStar> *she stands up to take apart the collar*
<Orthogon> <Rada> Okay. By the way, I really don't want to fight whatever thing is getting all this data...
<DeathStar> <Taiga> I want to learn what the collar is sending to before the kids fight
<Sara> * Erica snrks
<DeathStar> <Taiga> Fair enough
<Jackieness> <Airym> "I doubt that you are alone in your sentiment, Rada."
<Sara> <Erica> Yeah, he's not, but what a time to bring it up!
<ChadWinters> <Cel> If we have to fight it, then so be it. We've fought worse.
<DeathStar> -TIME JUMP-
<DeathStar> 6* Taiga and Rada work all night. Due to their working together, the number gods are kind and they find the signal. It is not in Loki's palace but is in the arena tournament hall itself, underneath it right now.
<DeathStar> *Taiga wipes her forehead. Airym also finishes getting the datapad to open up.
<Jackieness> <Airym> "I have access to the data."
<Sara> <Erica> What've we got?
<DeathStar> *Taiga tiredly looks over and Yuki wakes up, sleeping by Mireille. It seems the fat man was trying to keep tabs on his business partners. Not successfully, but he did do it somewhat*
<Sara> * Erica has thankfully showered most of the metaphysical grossness she was feeling away.
<DeathStar> (one moment while I type)
<DeathStar> 6* The collar man suddenly approached the owner 8 months ago with the idea of testing a new model for a fight club - the collar man's name being Cassius Ortue. He never explained why and since the first tournament was such a success, the bulky owner looked into it. (cont)
<DeathStar> 6* Loki's second in command suddenly, out of the blue, a year and a half ago wanted a tournament tapped Cassius for the collars to get download people's powers for some reason. But at the year mark Cassius began to act weird and strange, not quite himself. Leading to the fight club deal
<DeathStar> *Sadly the bulky owner never learned more with his spies*
<DeathStar> <Taiga> Hm
<DeathStar> <Taiga> What do you all make of this?
<Xanatos> <Pepper> I think we're looking at at least two shapeshifters.
<Sara> <Erica> There's a chance the collar maker is a shapeshifter... it's not impossible that he's being manipulated in some other way, but Occam's razor
<Sara> <Erica> The simplest explanation is most likely accurate here.
<ChadWinters> <Cel> If it's true that Cassius changed a bit, could he have become a shapeshifter...or one of the new gods that Lore's teams been looking in to?
<Jackieness> <Airym> "I would hyothesize that at least two individuals may have been replaced. One may even be the entity that Lorelei is looking for"
<Xanatos> <Pepper> Oh I guess those god things are there too. You think the shapeshifters and the gods could be working together?
<DeathStar> *Taiga muses* It would be strange for a shapeshifter to work against a shapeshifter
<DeathStar> <Taiga> Assuming you all think the second in command is one
<Xanatos> <Pepper> How do you figure they're working against each other?
<DeathStar> <Taiga> Maybe I'm wrong, but the collar maker went to the fight club guy behind Loki's guy's back
<Jackieness> <Airym> "The underground tournament is unsanctioned."
<DeathStar> <Taiga> While Loki's guy wanted to download people's power
<ChadWinters> <Cel> That it would seem we have one shapeshifter and one new god.
<Jackieness> <Airym> "The existence of the underground tournment has compromised the main tournament."
<Sara> <Erica> I mean, apparently the fight club's collars were meant to do that too, judging by the late owner's reactions.
<Xanatos> <Pepper> Yeah, but which is which.
<DeathStar> <Taiga> Yeah. Which is which
<DeathStar> *outside the bells ring for the tournament*
<Jackieness> <Airym> "Are any of these gods known sadists?"
<DeathStar> <Taiga> Yes
<ChadWinters> <Cel> If I were to make a gamble. The God would be Cassius. Shapeshifters dont' seem to show signs of difference, correct?
<DeathStar> <Taiga> The shapeshifters want to take over the various worlds
<DeathStar> <Taiga> And cause inner strife
<DeathStar> <Taiga> Loki's second in command, if he's a shapeshifter, will lose his job if his tournament blows up in his face
<DeathStar> *Taiga stands up* If he's a God
<DeathStar> <TAiga> Well, death might be on the menu
<DeathStar> *Taiga turns to Rada* Keep monitoring the signal for me
<Orthogon> *Rada nods* Sure thing.
<DeathStar> *She grabs her stuff, moving to the tournament and glances at Chris* I will have someone bring your mask down in a bit
<DeathStar> *She heads off. Yuki hops up and follows - Lorelei is already gone*
<Sara> <Chris> Understood. Just doing my job, ma'am.
<Xanatos> 6* Pepper moves after them.
<ChadWinters> 6Cel follows along.
<DeathStar> -SCENE SHIFT-
<DeathStar> *the kids are fitted with brand new collars with shiny new blue lights*
<Jackieness> <Moira> "So something was wrong with the old ones...?"
<DeathStar> *Rachael tugs at her collar as the crowd outside is excited. She peeks outside and sees Medivh, his face still messed up a bit despite healing treatments, in his seat, glaring in the direction of Shiva's tentI*
<DeathStar> <Servant> I don't know, I was told to put these on you
<DeathStar> *she curtseys apologetically*
<Seraphna> Kaelan> Hrm... **tries to see if people from other tents have them*
<DeathStar> *he also has a new - female - servant in the booth with him*
<Xanatos> <Valen> Wonder if I can make it up to him? 6* He whispers to Rachael
<DeathStar> *everyone has new collars*
<ChadWinters> 6Shiva steps in to the room, no longer having her guards by here. She looks over at all her fighters. Her eyes locking on to Valen dangerously.
<ChadWinters> 6Durt tugs at the collar. 1"What was wrong with the old ones?
<DeathStar> <Servant> *sighs and repeats what she told Kaelan*
<ChadWinters> <Shiva> The old ones seemed to have hardware issue. So we were provided with new ones.
<Jackieness> <Moira> "I already asked that."
<ChadWinters> *Have had a*
<DeathStar> *Loki can be heard talking to the crowd* We apologize for the delay. *he bongs and Kaelan's name is called to go first*
<Seraphna> * Kaelan moves out.
<ChadWinters> <Shiva> Contiune fighting hard everyone. 6She glances at Valen against as she moves out to take her spot in her tent
<DeathStar> <Announcer> House Medivh, due to circumstances, has asked to have a fighter step in to replace the fighter that was going to fight. It was granted.
<DeathStar> *the fighter's name has been x'ed off*
<DeathStar> *ejected from the tournament and a new name appears*
<Jackieness> <Moira> "...ummm... did Valen get that guy killed?"
<DeathStar> <Rachael> I think he's gunning for us now. *she notes softly to Valen*
<ChadWinters> <Durt> That's a grudge he won't forget
<Xanatos> <Valen> Hm. 6* He looks concerned, looking towards Kaelan.
<DeathStar> <Rachael> Nah. I think he just hired a new fighter to kick our asses
<Seraphna> * Kaelan steps out with her gear from the match, looking determined despite this.
<Jackieness> <Moira> "Nice going."
<DeathStar> *a red haired fighter begins to approach the arena and steps up with a scythe, wearing armor that looks almos maid like*
<DeathStar> *she turns toward Kaelan, her eyes hard and killer like*
<Seraphna> * Kaelan maintains a stoic look, as she readies her sword and shield.
<Xanatos> <Valen> ...she looks strong.
<DeathStar> *Rachael eyes the name on the board* Hm. Her name is kind of ironic
<DeathStar> <Announcer> 3~
<ChadWinters> <Durt> I'm not seeing a lot of opens in her defense
<DeathStar> <Announcer> 2~
<DeathStar> <Announcer> 1~
<Jackieness> <Moira> *looks at the name too*
<Seraphna> * Kaelan takes a breath and looks calm as the count down ends.
<DeathStar> *The fighter finally peers up, her green eyes locking onto Kaelan's, spinning the scythe to generate wind magic*
<DeathStar> *It reads: Mercy*
<DeathStar> <Announcer> 0
<DeathStar> *Mercy launches, floating forward*
<DeathStar> -END-
* ChadWinters has left #TAW-Session338
* Jackieness has left #TAW-Session338
* Orthogon has left #TAW-Session338 (Leaving)
Session Close: Mon Sep 10 22:38:56 2018