The Alien Wars 6: Reality Strikers

The Fumoffu Striker Special: The Hunt For Ren

Session Start: Sun Jul 21 00:00:00 2024
Session Ident: #fumoffu
<DeathStar> 5
<DeathStar> 3
<DeathStar> 1
<DeathStar> -0-
<DeathStar> Date: 10-761.5.13
<DeathStar> Location: Noire's Ship
<DeathStar> *after Ren's sudden ressurection and vanishing, tracking her has been rather difficult, as if she is using all her talent and techniques to purposely avoid them. Outside various reports of a strange fox popping up now and then and sightings of unnaturalness her and there in the Known Territories, the group has not been given much to go on. Hell, even Charlotte's bond does not seem to function the same anymore, either due to the death; while it does not seem to be completely severed, it does not seem to give insight anymore either*
<DeathStar> *right now, the group is floating in space near Earth*
<DeathStar> *Cheryl and Lorelei pace around in thought, holding various books from Miyuki*
<Seraphna> Kaelan> Are we SURE Jaime didn't have her tagged or something?
<DeathStar> <Taiga> That seems rather invasive. *She murmurs, looking tired*
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "Why would that have happened?"
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Mmmmm...yes... do you know something, Kaelan?"
<Seraphna> Kaelan> Jaime's a bit paranoid. And Ren was head of security for the last many decades.
<DeathStar> *Andrea holds a book upside down, staring at something*
<DeathStar> <Taiga> Should I be looking for trackers on my person?
<DeathStar> <Taiga> And then filing a lawsuit?
<Alicia> * Astra looks around awkwardly, looking emotionless as always
<Seraphna> Si> Nope, there definitely isn't one in your tail.
<DeathStar> *Taiga pushes her glasses up*
<DeathStar> *Then eyes Si with a look*
<DeathStar> <Cheryl> Should we go talk to this principal guy? He might have insight
<Seraphna> **Si looks back with bunny eyes**
<Seraphna> Angela> Cedarton might be able to help yes.
<DeathStar> <Chii> Do we have to? Can't we just go beat up monsters in bars
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Mmmmm... we do lack some expertise... Monsterworld again, then?"
<Alicia> <Astra> "Is... that okay...?"
<DeathStar> <Andeea> Do you plan to stay there for school?
<DeathStar> *she begins to move to Charlotte, musing*
<Alicia> * Astra stays silent
<DeathStar> <Lorelei> The place always bothers me, but if it's in and out I'm sure it'll be fine
<DeathStar> <Andrea> Charlotte. Since we're months out for a natural gate way
<DeathStar> <Andrea> Activate your stolen lich powers for me
<Alicia> * Charlotte does so
<DeathStar> *Andrea brings out a Dark One tome and flips through the pages while Cheryl makes a face* <Cheryl> That can't be healthy.
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "What?"
<DeathStar> *Andrea begins to draw something around Charlotte* <Cheryl> You're becoming an undead while alive.
<DeathStar> *Andrea then picks some fur from Si's tail and adds it to the circle*
<Jackieness> <Noire> *lounges* "Mmmmmm...still...surprised that ren bothered with the 'do not follow me' bit. She should know that is like the opposite of what you should say to me."
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "Meaning?"
<DeathStar> <Lorelei> So instead she should have left nothing?
<DeathStar> *Lorelei thinks on that*I
<DeathStar> <Chii> Meaning there's a conflicting nature - being undead while you're alive. Like if I stabbed you in the heart while in that state, and you reverted back to normal Charlotte, what would happen.
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Mmmmm...I suppose there is not really anything she could have done to dissuade me."
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "I'd be stabbed in the heart, I assume."
<DeathStar> *Andrea chants a spell* <Andrea> Done. You can stop now. We're at Monster World
<DeathStar> *Taiga pauses, then looks outside*
<DeathStar> <Taiga> You brought the whole ship?
<Jackieness> <Noire> *moves for the command seat and brings them about to face Monsterworld*
<Alicia> * Charlotte does stop there
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "So, why would the conflicting nature make Ren run away?"
<DeathStar> *Noire would see they're actually at Monster World already, flying over some of the woods*
<DeathStar> <Cheryl> I guess we'll have to see when we find Ren. According to Cuddles, she was in the middle of an atopsy when Ren vanished on her.
<DeathStar> <Cheryl> I don't think her dragoon powers can suddenly jolt her back to life with that much damage
<Seraphna> Angela> I should be able to put her back toegher with my power if we find her.
<DeathStar> <Chii> That sounds scary. "Put her back together"?
<Seraphna> Kaelan> And if not we can use some shadow weaving first to repair the undead part.
<Jackieness> <Noire> *brings them clsoer to Oakerton's school before coming in for alanding*
<DeathStar> <Lorelei> Irony on the fact Ren has become her own case.
<DeathStar> *the monster school seems to be in session right now; despite the fact it is a monster school, it looks to be orderly and neat*
<Alicia> <Astra> "I wish aunt Yoi could be here."
<DeathStar> <Chii> I'll wait in the ship. I don't feel like being molested - monsters love Kitsune
<Jackieness> <Noire> *glances at Chii* "...very well...though you are promoting negative stereotypes."
<DeathStar> <Cheryl> She's got her nose out of joint because Freyja got more invites to dance than her
<Alicia> <Astra> "...should I stay too...?"
<DeathStar> *Taiga adjusts her glasses* You'll be fine
<DeathStar> *She ruffles Astra's hair softly*
<Seraphna> Kaelan> Besides, if a monster gives you trouble, bite.
<DeathStar> *Cheryl steps off the ship, with Lorelei and Taiga following*
<Jackieness> <Noire> *heads toward the school*
<Alicia> * Charlotte does similarly, sticking with Astra, or allowing her to stick with
<DeathStar> *Cheryl opens the school doors; inside the hallways, various monsters peer at them, heading toward their classes. They seem to be curious, but then continue about their daily schedule, paying them little mind*
<DeathStar> *though the werewolves are checking out the kitsune, like Chii said*
<Seraphna> **Kaelan stretches and fixes her kimono as they walk**
<Seraphna> **Angela sticks by Cheryl**
<DeathStar> <Cheryl> *pats Angela's arm as they head for the offices* <Cheryl> Who wants to do the talking?
<Seraphna> Angela> Well I am a former student. Though Noire likes to be the class president.
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Mmmmm... I'll do the talking."
<Seraphna> Kaelan> And I will behave. Mostly.
<DeathStar> *Cheryl nods and knocks on the door; after a moment, they are invited inside, where Cedarton, still looking the same after 100 years, is sitting behind the desk*
<DeathStar> <Cedarton> ... You all, once again. How long has it been?
<Jackieness> <Noire> "A while, Principal Cedarton. I hope all has been well since the incident with the lich."
<DeathStar> <Cedarton> Everything is as it should be now. *he studies Astra* Thinking of enrolling?
<Alicia> <Astra> "... I... shouldn't make big decisions like that without a lot of thought, and that's not why we're here..."
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Mmmmm... it is actually the lich incident that brings us here. Do you recall Ren, my friend who absorbed a portion of the lich's undead nature?"
<Alicia> * Astra tries not to panic, even though she's deadpanning her entire statement.
<DeathStar> <Cedarton> I do; the two of them took on a bit risk but that power allowed them to do some impressive feats. *he studies Astra a bit, his vampric eyes boring into her a moment as he speaks, turning his attention fully back to Noire* Did it somehow return?
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Mmmm...we're not certain. What happened is this. Ren died while fighting a particular high level eldritch entity... and then reanimated. She then ran off on her own, and we are trying to find her."
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "It's a pain... an absolute pain... I'm still going to, obviously, I'm just mad that I have to."
<DeathStar> *Cedarton thinks on that* That is ... unusual. It likely is tied to the Lich incident. Did she die while using the Lich's power?
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "Yes... is that important?"
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Yes, she did."
<DeathStar> <Cedarton> If she was in a state of being undead, it could mean everything. *He taps a pen in his hand against the desk* Tapping into that power, you are essentially reverting yourself from being alive to undead. What does that mean? It means you are like a vampire or a living corpse.
<DeathStar> <Cedarton> However the fact she actually died in that state is what is unusual. I suppose the eldrich being was just that strong, or the fact she had no phylactery.
<Alicia> <Astra> "...will she be alright?"
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Mmmmm...as I said, it was a high-level eldrithc entity."
<DeathStar> <Cedarton> Well, she re-animated. So something acted as a soul-gem for hre.
<DeathStar> <Cedarton> The question is what
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "And why would she run away."
<DeathStar> *Cheryl thinks* I have to imagine it wasn't the kitsune marble - she would have given that to Charlotte when they wed.
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Are there any rules for this phylactery?"
<DeathStar> <Cedarton> The soul gem is an item they make to store their everything into - memories, personaly, etc. Since you two copied the powers, you clearly don't have one, because you are borrowing a copy and now the true thing
<DeathStar> <Cedarton> It's why when you destroyed the one Lich's soul gem, it died.
<DeathStar> *not the true
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "So, something that would carry memories..."
<DeathStar> <Cedarton> Right. It might be her body could have possibly made one inside her, if there was something unique about a Kitsune/Dragoon that would allow it
<DeathStar> <Cedarton> Or she did it herself before the mission
<DeathStar> *Taiga and Lorelei seem to be quietly looking through their datapads*
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Mmmm...what about in her tailspace?"
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "How are they constructed?"
<Seraphna> Kaelan> We hide many useful thinks her our tails. **pulls out Sudako** See?
<DeathStar> *Sudako blinks*
<DeathStar> <Cedarton> Well, outside it needing to be a magical receptacle , infant killing and other dark rituals usuall
<Seraphna> Kaelan> That sounds like a bad dark ritual. Infant making is better.
<DeathStar> <Cheryl> Could her stigmata be used I wonder. Or the kitsune tails like you said. Kitsune having low grade magic as it is
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Mmmmm...does not sound like Ren's style, either way."
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "Yeah, we can basically say that there are no soul gems in play, then, unless a replacement can be found."
<DeathStar> <Taiga> I think we can say she didn't make it on purpose
<DeathStar> *Taiga taps his chin* But if she does have this soul gem, then how did it happen
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Either way, we nee to find her."
<DeathStar> *Cedraton stands up, opening a painting of the school where a safe is located*
<DeathStar> *then he begins to open it and digs around among various strange stuff; after a bit he sets down a black potion, an eye inside a hand, and what looks to be a silver dagger* Here, take these
<Alicia> <Astra> "...vampires don't need soul gems, do they?"
<DeathStar> <Lorelei> ... Ugh
<Jackieness> <Noire> *collects the items* "And please how do we use these items?"
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "... the dagger is worrying."
<DeathStar> <Cedarton> No. Though the vampires of the Prime are a bit different than the ones of the Mirror, the basic premise is the same
<Alicia> * Astra nods. "That's a relief."
<DeathStar> <Cedarton> The hand here can temporarily be grafted onto someone - I am sure you know enough Dark Magiks to do it. It can help guide you to a Lich. The vial can do the same without needing to lose a hand, but there are side effects. It will allow you to see other things and the other things will see you
<DeathStar> <Cedarton> The weapon will allow you to ... kill your target if you feel you must. Or at least wound it enough to deal with it how you see fit, assuming they are a threat.
<DeathStar> *Taiga looks grim, while Lorelei silently looks at the exit*
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "... I'm not doing that."
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Mmmmm... I see. Thank you for your assistance."
<DeathStar> <Cheryl> Lets return to the ship
<DeathStar> *Cheryl nods her head and steps outside; Taiga follows; Lorelei bows then hurries out*
<Jackieness> <Noire> *heads back to her ship*
<DeathStar> *at the ship, there seems to be a bit of commotion; Cheryl jogs on up aboard, with Taiga and Lorelei catching up*
<Jackieness> <Noire> *steps on board* "What is going on here?!"
<Seraphna> Si> Fuuuu?
<DeathStar> *Adeline is there somehow, wearing a hood and a black outfit*
<DeathStar> *Fate standing behind her, tapping on her hand* So anyone else I should seek out?
<Seraphna> Kaelan> Adeline? Jaime here too?
<DeathStar> <Chii> We got party crashers
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "If you know where Ren is, that'll help."
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Mmmmmmm? And why the outfits?"
<DeathStar> <Fate> Sadly, my foresight is not what it used to be after spending so long in a fugue state
<DeathStar> <Fate> I can only keep track of people who are openly allowing it
<Jackieness> <Noire> "MMmm...I suppose that would have made it too easy."
<DeathStar> <Adeline> Jaime is doing Jaime stuff
<DeathStar> *she sits down in a chair* I thought I would lend you some assistance if you needed
<Seraphna> Kaelan> Aren't you usually Jaime stuff?
<DeathStar> <Adeline> Touche. She might be exploring the ship to steal
<DeathStar> <Taiga> She better be at the PAX or we're having civil rights talks
<DeathStar> *she looks at Noire* So - what do we want to do. The hand or the potion?
<Seraphna> Si> I'm sure she didn't put a tracker in your tail dear.
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Mmmmmm...unless anyone wishes to sacrifice a hand..."
<Seraphna> Kaelan> Why not ask an Atlean, they grow those back.
<DeathStar> <Chii> And what Atlean do we know?
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "I was assuming that temporary meant not losing a hand to do that."
<Seraphna> Kaelan> Elayne's on the PAX I think.
<DeathStar> <Lorelei> I believe it is meant to be temp
<DeathStar> <Lorelei> But it could still be a pain to reverse
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "Assuming there's no massive setbacks, I'll do it."
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Mmmmm...the potion seems a less extreme measure."
<DeathStar> *Lorelei studies, then holds out the hand* <Cheryl> Do you want to take the potion then and see how you feel?
<DeathStar> *Andrea moves over to Charlotte* I'll help attach the hand
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "Assuming the 'other things' aren't a major problem."
<DeathStar> <Adeline> Other things?
<DeathStar> *Adeline looks at Noire* You think you can handle other things?
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "The other things mentioned that can be seen and will see."
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Mmmmm...are you certain, Charlotte?"
<DeathStar> *Andrea pours something over Charlotte's hand and then has her take something* If you're sure you want to do this hand route, all you have to do is touch the hand. If you want to do the potion, just drink it
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "Without knowing the 'other things', it's a hard choice, but I'm willing to go with it."
<DeathStar> *Adeline stands up*
<DeathStar> *Then speaks into a mini comm, to keep Jaime informed*
<Alicia> <Astra> "Fate, which would you say is better?"
<DeathStar> <Fate> ... *Thinks* The potion's side effects will probably get in your way more, but it's answers will be more defined than the hand's, from what I am seeing. so if you want direct location, do it. The hand will be safer and you can remove it once back at the PAX, but it'll be more round about.
<DeathStar> <Chii> She means also you'll probably get a little high. Like the rabbit
<Jackieness> <Noire> "So safety versus expediency."
<DeathStar> <Andrea> If it can make you high, then Noire should take it.
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "Well, it's not a 'do not' from the potion, at least. I'll let you choose which one I go with."
<DeathStar> <Cheryl> Lets do the potion. It's faster. Hell, I'll do it if you want. <Lorelei> Hand. We can't afford to have enemies coming for us. <Taiga> Potion. <Andrea> Potion. Noire. <Fate> Either or. <Adeline> Hand.
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Mother!"
<DeathStar> *Chii doesn't speak up, playing with her hair*
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "I'm willing to volunteer for either, so it's fine. You don't have to do it."
<DeathStar> <Fate> I think we need some tie breakers
<Jackieness> <Noire> *eyes ehr mother*
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "Is it really just up to me?"
<DeathStar> *Andrea looks innocent*
<DeathStar> <Chii> Hm? *looks around* I doubt anyone wants me opinion
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Speak your opinion, Chii."
<DeathStar> <Chii> As you said, risk versus reward. *she looks at Charlotte* How badly you want to get to Ren? Potion is you really want to get her before she does something too dangerous - or stop before she already has. The hand might could take us another week or two for all we know
<DeathStar> <Chii> That's how I view it
<Jackieness> <Noire> "A good way to view it, Chii."
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "So...?"
<Seraphna> **Jaime pops in by Adeline**
<DeathStar> <Chii> So it's your call
<DeathStar> <Chii> I can't tell you how fast you want to do it
<Seraphna> **Kaelan muses** We could go for both. But the potion does sound more ideal.
<DeathStar> <Cheryl> If we want to do both, then one of us should do the potion while Charlotte does the hand since she's primed for it
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Mmmmm...I'm willing to use the potion, but not for my mother's amusement. Ren is sitll my closest friend."
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "...is that really going to help? Still..." *reaches for the potion then*
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "Unless you really think using both is going to help, I'm taking the potion."
<DeathStar> *Andrea leans over Noire's shoulder like the devil* One day, I'm giving you rock weed
<DeathStar> <Taiga> Alright then. I'm here to monitor if something goes wrong
<DeathStar> *Adeline pats Jaime's hand*
<Jackieness> <Noire> "I have to pilot the ship anyway."
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "Let her choose for herself."
<Alicia> * Charlotte starts drinking the potion
<DeathStar> *it tastes like old gym socks, but she manages to get it down hopefully*
<DeathStar> *Fate leans in as the world begins to go all 70's magik on her, becoming colorful and trippy and moving around on her, voices bending and sounding far away* <Fate> Hello? How are you feeling?
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "Distracted but fine."
<DeathStar> <Adeline> *scans Charlotte* Your scans are off the chart.
<DeathStar> <Adeline> Especially your brain scan
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "You're scanning me? Correction. Annoyed."
<DeathStar> <Adeline> I want to make sure you don't drop over dead
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "I'm not going to die from this. Sheesh."
<DeathStar> <Adeline> Well, if I am correct, these scans have told me how this works
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Mmmmm...welcome to my world, Charlotte."
<DeathStar> <Adeline> Unless you want to figure it out yourself
<DeathStar> *she closes her datapad, and sits back down*
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "... fine, just tell me."
<Alicia> * Astra looks over the datapad, curious herself
<DeathStar> <Adeline> It looks like your mental awareness is expanding - rapidly. With your psi powers, try focusing on what you are seeking.
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "...alright, I want to know what was in this... later, at least." *focuses on Ren*
<DeathStar> *Astra would see that Charlotte's mental awareness and mental psi powers are rapidly going off the charts; being a psionic, she probably could beat Adeline in a fight and hold everyone in a lock - or maybe that's the shrooms talking*I
<Alicia> <Astra> "Are... you alright...? That's..."
<DeathStar> *Charlotte would get a planet's name in her head, just pops right in*
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "Are you kidding me? She's not even on this planet?" *names the planet*
<DeathStar> <Lorelei> I see she's becoming unruly
<Alicia> <Astra> "...we probably shouldn't use potions like that in the future."
<Jackieness> <Noire> *lays ina course for the planet in question&
<DeathStar> *Taiga prepares them to jump*
<DeathStar> <Adeline> With her mind expanding that much, I can wager how it might draw unwanted attention
<Alicia> <Astra> "...oh. That's scary."
<DeathStar> <Adeline> We just have to hope no one picks up on her new found enlightment and that it doesn't cause strain on her brain
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Then do soemthign to help her."
<Alicia> <Astra> "...no-one told me that it's a beacon..."
<DeathStar> <Adeline> Right. *She sits by Charlotte and works on supressing her*
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "Don't I need to be like this to locate her?"
<DeathStar> *the ship arrives outside what looks to be a forest world with a massive city in the middle. Judging by the scans, this city has been working at cutting down the forest to keep itself afloat*
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Mmmm...Cedarton did warn us it could attract attention."
<DeathStar> <Adeline> It would help with the search, I admit
<DeathStar> <Lorelei> It's up to you if you want to keep it going
<Jackieness> <Noire> "...the city or is she hiding in the wilderess?"
<DeathStar> <Taiga> Both would suit her
<Alicia> * Charlotte tries to locate her, while occasionally glancing over at Astra reassuringly
<DeathStar> *Adeline backs off from supressing and Charlotte would pick up the imprint of Ren in the city, but near the forest; probably so she can work inside the city itself, then retreat into the forest if something comes up*
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "Oh, outskirts. That makes sense."
<Alicia> <Astra> "... Adeline, is psionic suppression a skill of yours?"
<DeathStar> <Adeline> Not a good one; a tool like something like Andrea's family has is better. The Suisen has some tools as well
<DeathStar> <Adeline> But it was not something I thought I would need to bring
<DeathStar> <Adeline> Essentially, what I'm trying to do is more cancelation to muffle her growing power
<Seraphna> **Jaime muses** Is it one of the ones I keep in subspace?
<DeathStar> *Adeline eyes Jaime for a second at that, with a strange expression* ... Oh?
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Mmmmmm...just raises more questions..."
<DeathStar> *Taiga plots them a location near the outskirts, cloaked*
<Seraphna> Jaime> Safest place for them no? **she tilts her head** But I don't know what each does.
<DeathStar> <Adeline> Hm. I am sure the kids know. I have to keep close to Charlotte right now
<Seraphna> **Jaime nods and queries their kids**
<DeathStar> <Cheryl> Alright I'm heading into the city
<DeathStar> *Cheryl, Lorelei, and Taiga step off, with Chii going into the shadows of Cheryl; Fate and Andrea remain behind*
<Alicia> * Charlotte joins the group with Astra unless she has to stay
<Seraphna> **Angela and Kaelan join those going**
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Mmmmmm...mother, the ship is warded against intrusion, so you should be fine."
<DeathStar> *Charlotte can step out; the city itself looks to be more advanced than current day Earth, with the logging machines heard in the background of where they are and people using driving machines that can hover, but otherwise it seems this world has space flight but going too far out of their system is not capable without other world's help*
<DeathStar> <Andrea> Thank you, dear. If something happens, I will alert you
<DeathStar> *Adeline sticks with Charlotte as they walk the streets; some of them dirt due to being on the outskirts*
<DeathStar> <Cheryl> I say we hit an establishment with a lot of people, like a bar or a resturant and ask around for Ren.
<Jackieness> <Noire> 8walks with the others in the city* "Strnge... why does such an advanced society still have a dependency on an industrial age resource?"
<Alicia> * Astra looks fascinated by the dirty streets, for some reason.
<DeathStar> *Cheryl heads toward a tavern; Lorelei and Taiga walk along, while Taiga thinks* <Taiga> Some people cling on longer than they should
<DeathStar> <Taiga> I'm wondering who is helping with their space program
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "I guess trees are renewable."
<DeathStar> *she begins to look into the area of space they're in while they walk into the tavern; the people there look to be mainly gruff men, with some women about, all turning to the door as they step inside*
<DeathStar> <Taiga> Ah. Some of the small worlds under Lenneth's umbrella
<DeathStar> <Taiga> Well, was under her umbrella
<Jackieness> <Noire> "...mmmm...how boredly cliche."
<Alicia> * Astra is unreadable as usual
<DeathStar> *Cheryl moves to the counter; at that moment, Charlotte would feel familiar minds, two of them, strike at her mind to see who she is and steal information before trying to quickly retreat*
<DeathStar> *leaving imprints of who they were and making the world dizzy*
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "Why here?" *was thinking of that when it happened, but pivots into looking into who they were*
<DeathStar> *using her massive expansion, she would trace it back to the Spade clone and his sister, trying to figure out who this massive psion is on the planet; they seem to be nearby for some reason, before they make themselves dark to her*
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "I don't have time for you, Spades."
<DeathStar> <Taiga> Spades?
<Jackieness> <Noire> "..they are here? How annoying."
<DeathStar> <Adeline> .. *Tries to feel them out, her expression darkeing* The only reason I can think of is Ren
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "They're both here, and seem to think they can just... okay, if they touch her, they die. Permanently."
<DeathStar> <Lorelei> Unless we want to hunt them down to see what they know, we should steer clear
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Mmmmm? Why would they be interested in Ren?"
<DeathStar> <Adeline> Why would they want to be here on this godforsaken planet
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "I already said I don't have time for them." *continues the search*
<DeathStar> *Cheryl returns from the bar* Alright, I got something from the locals
<Alicia> <Astra> "I think it's interesting."
<Jackieness> <Noire> "What do you have, Cheryl?"
<DeathStar> <Cheryl> There's rumors that a scary monster lives in the woods and preys on people who enter it. The locals have been afraid to do too much work on this area of the woods. *she circles the woods right outside the outskirts of the city*
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Mmmmm...sounds like the sort of thing Ren would chase."
<DeathStar> <Cheryl> They'd like the local police to do somthing but not much has been done.
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "I guess we're going to have to deal with that too."
<DeathStar> <Cheryl> Well get this; the monster is reportedly a skeleton monster, much like a Lich.
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "This had better not be related..."
<Seraphna> Kaelan> We know it is. Let's get her before she gets offworld.
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Mmmmm...let's go."
<Alicia> <Astra> "I wish Aunt Yoi was here..."
<DeathStar> *Taiga rubs her head once again*
<DeathStar> *Adeline checks on Jaime's work on finding the psionic damper*
<DeathStar> *as Cheryl leads them out into the Outskirts woods, there's a few houses there, a gate that is closed with warnings not to go into the forest, and beyond that a massive foresT*
<Seraphna> **Jaime has pulled out a device Sephie described for her** I think this is it?
<Alicia> * Charlotte instantly hops over the gate
<DeathStar> *standing at the gate, talking to the gate keeper, is two Cartel people - one looks to be Spade, the other is a female that looks like Adeline*
<DeathStar> *they seem to be arguing about the gate being closed for safety reasons*
<DeathStar> *Adeline takes it to keep on hand as they arrive at the gate*
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Mmmmmmm..."
<Seraphna> Jaime> Oh boy.
<Alicia> <Astra> "...should we talk to them?"
<DeathStar> *Will finally seems to get his way, the gate opening up
<DeathStar> <Adeline> ... I better hang back a little. *she seems odd*
<Alicia> <Astra> "...is that really okay?"
<DeathStar> <Cheryl> Lets bluff and follow.
<DeathStar> *she notes before the gate raises again*
<Jackieness> <Noire> "...I don't have the patience for this." *tries to open a shadowport to past the gate*
<DeathStar> *Noire succeeds easily*
<Alicia> * Charlotte seems to have already gone ahead
<Jackieness> <Noire> "This way." *goes through the portal*
<Alicia> * Astra heads through
<DeathStar> *Cheryl pauses, then uses it to go past the gate*
<DeathStar> *the large trees, going up so high it almost blocks the sunlight, are all around them. The air here is feels wrong and icy*
<DeathStar> *Lorelei decides to hang back and look for Ren's place of living inside the outskirts*
<Jackieness> <Noire> *looks around* "Mmmmm...certainly has a supernatural vibe."
<DeathStar> <Taiga> .. *looks around the woods* It's a large wooded area; if she is out here, how do we locate her?
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Charlotte?"
<Alicia> <Astra> "Charlotte's probably already looking for her..." *tries to locate Charlotte, which probably isn't that hard, since she's probably not that far ahead*
<DeathStar> <Cheryl> Lets hope nothing happens to her while we try to find BOTH of them
<Jackieness> <Noire> "...especially with the Spade twins around."
<DeathStar> *Charlotte probably is nearby in the woods; at that moment, while using her powers to locate Ren, getting the image of a large tree with a dead mark on it that runs down it to dead grass, Charlotte would be attacked by something old and ancient, entering her mind to take it over*
<Alicia> * Astra checks if Adeline is here
<DeathStar> *Adeline seems to have remained in the city with Lorelei, probably as not to kill anyone*
<DeathStar> *but she is probably keeping psionic tabs on the group*
<DeathStar> *Cheryl walks along, picking up Char's tracks and begins to follow them* This way
<Alicia> * Charlotte fights back, being too distracted by that to relay any information, but she's very visible at this moment, so Astra can easily locate her if no-one else can.
<Alicia> <Astra> "She's not very good at surpressing her powers."
<DeathStar> *Jaime's datapad would beep with a message*
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Let us hurry then."
<Alicia> <Astra> "...I guess I'm not either, though."
<Seraphna> **Jaime checks it**
<DeathStar> <Taiga> We'll get her back to Adeline as soon as we locate Ren
<DeathStar> *Cheryl kneels by Charlotte as they catch up, seeing what looks to be her twitching and writhing from this attack*
<DeathStar> <Taiga> Something is wrong
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Clearly..." *looks around* "...I cna attempt to lay a ward around her."
<Alicia> <Astra> "Alright."
<Seraphna> **jaime nods, sharing the message with Adeline over the bond as she observes the others**
<DeathStar> *whatever is clawing it's way into Charlotte's mind lessens much like when Adeline is helping*
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Keep an eye out for any dangers." *clothes shift to her shrine maiden outfit*
<DeathStar> <Taiga> Neat trick
<Jackieness> <Noire> *starts trying to lay a ward around Charlotte*
<DeathStar> *The ward seems to finish protecting Charlotte, aiding whatever is shielding her*
<Jackieness> <Noire> "...Charlotte, do you feel better?"
<DeathStar> <Cheryl> How you feeling? *She helps Charlotte up*
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "Ugh... yeah... a little achey, but mostly just annoyed."
<Seraphna> Jaime> Well, signs are not looking good at Ren's place.
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Mmmmmmmm?"
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "Seen any dead marked trees?"
<Seraphna> Jaime> Research on the undead, no food, signs of rituals.
<DeathStar> *Taiga begins to walk around the area for the tree*
<Jackieness> <Noire> "What sort of rituals?"
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "... wait a second, did she really just teleport to the nearest phylactery, regardless of who owns it?"
<Jackieness> <Noire> "...this could be what Cedarton meant... her nature is out of whack."
<Seraphna> Jaime> Seems like research into them, more than actually performing them.
<Seraphna> Jaime> She was trying to learn about them I guess.
<DeathStar> <Taiga> I found it
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Come on." *heads for Taiga*
<DeathStar> *Taiga stands in front of a massive tree with dead areas o nit*
<DeathStar> *As if something was rotting the tree from the inside*
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "... okay, that's it." *assuming it is, and I'm not being faked out*
<Seraphna> **Si muses**
<Seraphna> **Jaime crinckles her nose** That feels... wrong.
<DeathStar> <Cheryl> What does it mean? *Adeline joins them finally, with Lorelei*
<DeathStar> *Adeline snapping on Charlotte the mental supressor*
<DeathStar> *her wrist*
<Seraphna> **Jaime feels out the tree**
<DeathStar> *Jaime would see the rot is coming form underneath it*
<Seraphna> Jaime> It's coming from below the tree.
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "I'd usually complain, but I don't have the energy to right now."
<Jackieness> <Noire> "...shall I excavate?"
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "Please."
<DeathStar> <Adeline> If whatever shielded you long enough for Noire to ward you, you'd have lost your mind.
<DeathStar> <Adeline> I should have been here
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "Why weren't you?"
<DeathStar> <Adeline> Whenever I see those two, I get a strong urge to attack
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "Like regular anger or outside compulsion?"
<DeathStar> <Adeline> A compulsion almost. *She lifts her hand up under her chin* I think it is due to all my years of messing with myself to resist.
<DeathStar> *Taiga finishes circling the tree* I think there might be a trap door here
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Oh? A hidden lair then?"
<DeathStar> *Taiga lifts the grass up, to reveal it; a ladder going straight down
<DeathStar> *she eyes the roots, that look dead as well*
<Alicia> * Astra seems psychically stronger than before, though it's just that she's less able to surpress herself right now.
<DeathStar> *Lorelei looks around, eyeing into the tree tops* .... Hm
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Mmmmmmm?"
<DeathStar> <Lorelei> Sorry. It's not worth pointing out. *she glances at Adeline*
<DeathStar> *Cheryl moves to the trapdoor* I'll jump down.
<Alicia> * Charlotte looks up into the tree tops
<DeathStar> *it seems Will and his sister have been observing them, probably the entire time, judging by Will leaning on the branches. They seem to be in no mood to interfere unless it turns sideways
<Jackieness> <Noire> "...as long as it does not come abck to annoy us later on." *uses ehr tendrils to lower herself down into the hidden lair*
<DeathStar> *Adeline, Lorelei, and Taiga follow*
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "Come on, lets go." * Astra heads down the trapdoor, assumedly using a ladder or similar.
<Seraphna> **Jaime, kaelan adn Si follow**
<DeathStar> *the group arrives in what looks to be a lab; doubtful Ren built it, judging by the equipment, but she has definitely made herself at home with it. Broken equipment here and there, and it seems to have been dug out pretty far. The stifling darkness is heavier in here and there are sounds of movements in one of the chambers down there*
<Jackieness> <Noire> *looks around*
<DeathStar> *Adeline and Taiga study the equipment; it looks to be a mix of materials of god knows what and on the walls scribbles, both Ren and the previous occupant*
<DeathStar> *a fridge is plugged in the wall neaby*
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "How is this place even connected?"
<DeathStar> <Cheryl> I have no idea
<DeathStar> <Cheryl> I could rip the wall apart and see
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Mmmm... let's keep looking."
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "It's not important enough to vandalise the place to find out."
<DeathStar> *the movement pauses in the other chamber, then begins to move toward them*
<DeathStar> *quickly*
<DeathStar> <Lorelei> Here she comes. *Chii pops out of the shadows to prepare, holding the silver knife, likely having yoinked it*
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "If you end up stabbing my wife, I'll kill you."
<DeathStar> *a figured completely wrapped up in cloth to hide eveything but her eyes arrives. It looks to be Ren, judging by the low key bond resonance. And the swishing of what looks to be super thin tails, almost skeleton like*
<Jackieness> <Noire> "...last resort, remember..."
<DeathStar> *The eyes look sunken, almost non existant*
<DeathStar> <Cheryl> Ren?
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "Hey."
<DeathStar> <Ren> Why are you all here? .... Ah. I suppose I should have expected it.
<Jackieness> <Noire> "You know how stubborn we are."
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "Because you came here, idiot."
<DeathStar> <Ren> It's because I'm a danger to everyone. I am a Lich, an undead monster. And my thoughts have been getting less focused as time goes on.
<Seraphna> Jaime> Isn't it more dangerous to have us out there looking not knowing where you are?
<DeathStar> *Adeline seems to be psionically scanning Ren while they talk*
<Seraphna> Jaime> We could run into pirates any moment. Charlotte's right here, for proof.
<DeathStar> <Ren> ..... *she doesn't seem humored*
<Alicia> <Astra> "...that... we should probably take you somewhere we can keep better care of you."
<DeathStar> <Ren> And then what?
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Mmmmm...and we do have access to some potential help."
<DeathStar> *Adeline looks over what notes Ren has scribbled on the boards and walls*
<DeathStar> <Ren> ... Alright. *She says, rather easily*
<DeathStar> <Taiga> .... *lets out a breath* That went smoothly
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "We'll deal with that once we're out of here. Unless you want to take care of the other one first."
<DeathStar> <Ren> Other one?
<DeathStar> *She looks at the room*
<DeathStar> <Ren> Oh
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "The one that tried to take over my mind."
<DeathStar> <Ren> Someone tried to take over your mind?
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "Yeah. Luckily, I'm strong."
<DeathStar> <Adeline> Until we know where they even are, I don't think we can go after that person
<DeathStar> <Adeline> Lets work on Ren first
<Alicia> <Astra> "I thought she was just having problems with her powers."
<DeathStar> *Ren seems to be trembling with rage at the idea of someone messing with Charlotte*I
<Alicia> <Astra> "I guess I should've read her mind."
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Mmmm...presumably its whoever originally carved out this lair."
<Alicia> <Astra> "I know I'm not supposed to, but..."
<DeathStar> <Adeline> I do not think it is them. This place, I believe, was taken over by Ren from someone else looking into the Lich curse. Perhaps even Ren dispatched them. I'd ask, but she seems to be out of it
<DeathStar> *Adeline eyes Ren mumbling to herself about killing*
<DeathStar> <Cheryl> Alright. I'll see about getting Ren up and outside to our ship.
<DeathStar> <Taiga> I'll stay here and see if there is anything worthwhile to grab.
<Alicia> * Astra looks in the fridge, but doesn't take anything
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Mmmmmmm..." *starts looking around*
<DeathStar> *inside Astra would find bloody meat from who knows what - all raw. Some of it looking like it might be rotting*I
<Seraphna> Si> I will stay with Taiga to grab stuff. And help her search.
<DeathStar> *Cheryl takes Ren and even as she mumbles incoherantly about killing whoever messed with Charlotte, she begins to lead her toward the rope ladder*
<DeathStar> *Taiga eyes the meat* I hope she wasn't eating that
<Alicia> <Astra> "I don't think it'd be rotting if she was."
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Scan it."
<DeathStar> <Taiga> ... Right. *She pushes up her glasses in thought, then grabs her datapad reluctantly*
<DeathStar> *as the meat begins to come in, it seems to be a mix of mostly animals from the forest, though some of the ones in the back come up human, especially all the rotted ones*
<DeathStar> <Taiga> ... *Shows the screen*
<DeathStar> *Chii pockets the knife for now, sticking with Cheryl*
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "So... does the other lich detect psions or... just potion drinkers?"
<Jackieness> <Noire> "..how old?"
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "Got an idea?"
<DeathStar> <Taiga> The rotted ones date back before Ren arrived. If Adeline is right about Ren and the original person being here encountering each other, it's likely their meat. However. There is one piece of human meat that dates toward the period Ren was here
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Mmmmmm...I see..." *goes to check the other rooms*
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "I wonder what that means."
<DeathStar> *The other rooms seem to have strange equipments, looking like they're stuff to scan something and extract stuff, but it looks all out of stuff from a horror movie, there's bindings on the wall, there's weird books written in them like a mad man*
<DeathStar> *Lorelei tests the bindings on the wall*
<DeathStar> <Lorelei> Someone chained themselves up
<Alicia> <Astra> "Themselves? Why?"
<DeathStar> <Lorelei> Good question
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Likely becasue they were losing control."
<DeathStar> <Taiga> Might need to learn more from the city.
<DeathStar> <Adeline> We need to scan Ren more carefully once on the ship. To see if she has this soul gem and where
<DeathStar> <Adeline> And then decide if this process can be reversed. If she came here to try to learn how to reverse it
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Perhaps consult the experts in th other universe."
<DeathStar> *Taiga gathers the books and stuff* Ah. The problem
<DeathStar> <Taiga> My apprentices aren't quite done building the new gate
<Jackieness> <Noire> "...of course." *adjusts her glasses* "Then we shall have to make do with us."
<DeathStar> <Taiga> We would have to try Yggdrasil's passage which we closed off as well, but that way could be more easily reopen possibly
<DeathStar> *Taiga looks at the others* I'll see to it
<DeathStar> <Adeline> How do you plan to reopen it? <Taiga> Two ideas. One involves a person the system recognizes
<DeathStar> <Taiga> Then it'll force a connection
<Alicia> <Astra> "So... it's something about this place that causes people to lose control, or that other lich?"
<Jackieness> <Noire> "We don't have the datapoints to reach a conclusion yet."
<DeathStar> <Taiga> Well, we need to learn what happened to the Lich she came here to learn from.
<DeathStar> <Taiga> Is it alive. Did it die. Did it retreat
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "It's alive enough for psychic attacks."
<DeathStar> <Taiga> But - WAS that a Lich?
<DeathStar> <Taiga> We have no definitive proof
<DeathStar> <Taiga> Unless you want to risk reopening yourself to it to find out
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Mmmmm...Charlotte, cna you describe it?"
<DeathStar> <Lorelei> I think if she felt a Lich she'd know. She has their power
<Alicia> * Charlotte describes it as best she can, but the details are imperfect. It's ancient, though, and presumably powerful. She's going to say it is anyway.
<DeathStar> <Taiga> Ancient and powerful. If it is a Lich, then it's one that has been around for a long time. I find it hard to believe it wouldn't have sounds beaten Ren
<DeathStar> <Taiga> Assuming that is it's home
<DeathStar> *soundly
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "It'd have to find her first, for one, and we have no reason to believe it's not the reason she's having trouble right now."
<Jackieness> <Noire> "...its possible that its phylactery is nearby."
<DeathStar> <Lorelei> I'll keep an eye out as we search the place
<Alicia> <Astra> "I'm assuming it's not the fridge."
<DeathStar> <Adeline> I guess this is all the more reason to question Ren
<DeathStar> *Adeline heads for the ladder*
<Jackieness> <Noire> Mmmmm... I suppose."
<DeathStar> <Taiga> I'll tear the place apart before I leave to get Victoire - and if she is unreachable, Kaori
<Seraphna> **Jaime follows her up the ladder**
<DeathStar> -TBC-
<DeathStar> -Minis are open-
* Jackieness has quit IRC
Session Close: Mon Jul 22 00:00:00 2024

Session Start: Sun Jul 28 00:00:00 2024
Session Ident: #fumoffu
* Jackieness has joined #fumoffu
* Alicia has joined #fumoffu
<DeathStar> Okay
<DeathStar> Alright lets begin. We're not going to stat the scene with Ren and company right away as a heads up
<DeathStar> 5
<DeathStar> 3
<DeathStar> 1
<DeathStar> -0-
<DeathStar> Date: 10-761.5.15
<DeathStar> Location: Yggdrasil
<DeathStar> *Taiga has gathered Victoire, and any other family members of her's due to the fact the system might be encoded to them as well, plus sent an invite to Kaori's family for the same reason*
<DeathStar> *Taiga sets up some equipment* Okay, before we go through, who all is wanting to through to the Mirror Universe to see if there is a cure for this Lich stuff?
<Seraphna> Si> I'll go with you.
<DeathStar> <Taiga> Alright then.
<DeathStar> *Taiga opens the door to the pathways*
<Alicia> <Victoire> "I'd go in a heartbeat, but... almost my entire family is on this side."
<DeathStar> <Taiga> Well take you as far as the command center then and have you unlock everything
<DeathStar> <Taiga> Unless you think a direct descendant can do it
<DeathStar> *she cranes her head back*
<Alicia> <Victoire> "I wouldn't put it past her."
<DeathStar> <Chii> It would be bad if the Empress' wife got hurt on this
<DeathStar> *She leans on a leaf, there without Cheryl for once*
<DeathStar> <Taiga> Okay, Lets set off then. *she steps into the Pathways*
<DeathStar> *Taiga motioning at Si to provide light*
<Seraphna> **Si creates a torch with her hand upraised**
<DeathStar> *After a bit of traveling, they arrive in the command area which seems to be okay, but in standby mode*
<DeathStar> <Taiga> This place has certainly been repairing itself since the incident
<DeathStar> *she takes a seat and begins to check the systems*
<Alicia> * Astra and Victoire do similar, though Victoire seems less knowledgable about the machinery
<Alicia> <Astra> "How are you doing... ahh, how do I address the tree?"
<DeathStar> *As Victoire messes with the computers, it automatically powers up and the Miyuki like figure appears* Welcome back, Victoire. It has been a while since your last return
<DeathStar> <Taiga> Essentially that
<DeathStar> <Taiga> Tough
<DeathStar> *Touch
<DeathStar> <Taiga> Victoire's touch - DNA - will always be remembered
<DeathStar> <Taiga> It's why I believe in the high chance of descendants rousing the computers too
<Alicia> <Victoire> "It has... sorry I couldn't bring Kaori along too." (unless she's here)
<Sara> * Kaori had a headache
<Seraphna> Si> So Victoire and Kaori gotta make babies with their wives for the good of reality. **nods**
<DeathStar> *The computer observes them both, then manifests something to put on Kaori's head* You should not be staying up late at your age
<Alicia> <Victoire> "We're here to open up the doors to the mirror world."
<Alicia> <Astra> "Sorry I never came to visit earlier."
<DeathStar> *The computer begins to make calculations, then begins to open everything up* <Computer> It is now keyed to your handprint to open and close as you want it now. *she turns ot Astra, leaning in* It is okay, I am a bit out of the way
<Alicia> * Astra nods, less shyly than usual, but still a little shyly
<DeathStar> *Taiga observes the map* <Taiga> Alright, everything is unlocked. Si, did you want to escort Victoire back or stick with me?
<DeathStar> *Chii pries around important looking crystals and wonders if she can steal one*
<Seraphna> Si> Well, she shouldn't go alone. There could be reality bats.
<Alicia> <Astra> "No."
<DeathStar> <Taiga> No?
<DeathStar> *Chii pauses in handling one in the background*
<Alicia> <Astra> "Don't mess with the systems!" *practically retreats back into her usual shyness after that, looking embarrassed*
<DeathStar> <Miyuki Computer> Thank you; I need those
<DeathStar> <Taiga> Alright; Victoire, Si will get you back to the Prime and your family
<DeathStar> <Taiga> The rest of us will continue onto the Mirror and see what we can learn
<DeathStar> *she grabs a backpack and puts it on*
<DeathStar> Location: PAX
<DeathStar> *Cuddles examines the corpse like Ren; in the background, the holovid is talking about the planet they were just at having a Cartel influence coming in to help out with unspecified things and bring in influx of business.*
<DeathStar> <Cuddles> I am getting no lifesigns. Nothing
<DeathStar> *Adeline sits off to the side, flipping through all the paperwork they got from the planet*
<Seraphna> Jennifer> Not too unusual if she's undead.
<DeathStar> <Andrea> It looks like the Lich that was on the world was attempting some sort of ritual from what I am gathering, but before they could complete it, they fell into some sort of madness and began to consume people.
<Seraphna> Thena> The Zombie Munchies!
<DeathStar> *Cuddles then checks out Charlotte* Well, good news is Charlotte is no longer under the influence of the expanded mind and is no longer a beacon to whatever reached out and touched her
<DeathStar> *Ren seems quiet during all this, just looking at them*
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Mmmm...perhaps they had decided that being udnead was not for them, and tried to reverse their condition... but all too late."
<DeathStar> <Cheryl> There is one thing we should have done while Charlotte was hyper aware and I'm kicking myself for not suggesting it
<DeathStar> <Cheryl> But I'm not sure it's worth one of us using it again
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "Does it bother anyone else that the Cartel moved in before this is dealt with?"
<DeathStar> <Cheryl> It seems like there's something on the planet they want - probably why the twins were there
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Mmmmmm...these sorts of deals are not overnight. Probably was contingent on cleaning up the threat, which we did for them."
<DeathStar> <Cheryl> I agree
<DeathStar> <Cheryl> Hence them being in the woods
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "... did we though?"
<DeathStar> <Cheryl> Hard to say on that matter
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Enough to satisfy them for now."
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "I'm not going to rush to their defence if it starts eating them."
<DeathStar> <Cheryl> If we had used the ability you gained to see if there was a lich still in the woods, or to check Ren's condition out more, we might have more clues
<DeathStar> <Cheryl> She's barely talking now
<DeathStar> <Andrea> It could be rot.
<DeathStar> <Andrea> Maybe eating did something to stimulate but being a Lich that seems needless and more zombie like
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Mmmmm...liches are undead sorcerers. They are supposed to be above such basic concerns."
<DeathStar> <Cuddles> Well, I did find a few things
<DeathStar> *Cuddles brings up the scans*
<DeathStar> <Cuddles> You said that she needed a soul gem or this pytaha thing.
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "Pitaya?"
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Phylactery." *said flatly*
<DeathStar> <Cuddles> That
<DeathStar> <Cuddles> I might have found something similiar, but it doesn't look like it might be complete. *she zooms in* Her stigmata, the part of the dragoon that allows transformation/bonding with another person and turning them into the dragons, is different than normal and is resonating with something. Something in Charlotte, probably the bonding link with her.
<DeathStar> <Cuddles> It might be why the bond is not quite right
<DeathStar> <Cuddle> Charlotte could be acting like her Phylactery
<Jackieness> <Noire> *looks over at Charlotte* "Lucky you."
<Seraphna> Jennifer> A living one might explain why she was experiencing that weird mind thing.
<DeathStar> <Cheryl> So what does that mean? Charlotte is containing her soul?
<Alicia> <Charlotte> *blushing* "Ah?"
<DeathStar> *Andrea taps the notes* You would think them being closer together would speed up recovery yet Ren is acting more and more like a doll
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Mmmmmm...is Ren's soul flowing in one direction toward Charlotte?"
<Alicia> * Charlotte tries to feel out what's going on
<DeathStar> *Charlotte would feel, through the bond, that Ren is present next to her more so than usual; despite the fact the Ren on the table looks more dead like than ever*
<DeathStar> <Andrea> It is a high possibility.
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "...is she astrally projecting?"
<DeathStar> <Andrea> But then that would leave us with - what is left in Ren's body if that happens.
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Which is undesirable... Ren's hunger may be combnining with the undead nature to create a hungry lich."
<DeathStar> <Cuddles> Should I strap Ren down?
<DeathStar> <Cheryl> Might piss her off
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "How would that help, anyway?"
<DeathStar> *Adeline finally turns*
<DeathStar> <Adeline> Okay, this is all theories naturally but
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Mmmmmm?"
<DeathStar> <Adeline> If - IF - Ren's soul is being moved into Charlotte and Ren's body is about to be left with nothing in it but this Lich monster.
<DeathStar> <Adeline> That would leave us with a few options. Is there a way to purge the body afterward and move the soul back, or do we just destroy the body
<DeathStar> <Adeline> And make a new onw
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Mmmmmm...mother...thoughts?"
<DeathStar> <Adeline> And can Charlotte handle a second soul in it
<Jackieness> <Noire> "...I would prefer to have my friend back."
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "I'm not exactly comfortable with... well, I want Ren to have her body back."
<DeathStar> *Andrea thinks* Ren being a soulless fiend will be a problem. It will not be able to be talked down and we'll be in danger if we want to try to return it. Destroying her body will be the safest option but it will also be the riskest. Right now there is a connection between the body and Charlotte and if we blow it up, that connection is broken. Charlotte will be stuck with her soul until we find a way to extract it and the soul might take damage that way
<DeathStar> <Andrea> Keeping it around and trying to reverse will be riskier to us, but safe to the soul
<DeathStar> *safer
<Jackieness> <Noire> "What abotu stasis?"
<DeathStar> <Andrea> I've never tried to statsis a soul before, I confess. I'm not even sure how long Charlotte can handle Ren's soul before she loses her mind.
<Seraphna> **Jennifer's hand turns blue and cold** I do enjoy stasis solutions.
<DeathStar> <Adeline> I think they mean Ren
<Jackieness> <Noire> "And stasis on the body?"
<DeathStar> <Andrea> We can give it a try. If "Ren" allows it
<Alicia> * Charlotte asks through the bond, but isn't really happy with this path herself
<DeathStar> *Charlotte would feel Ren through the bond; not so much in thought but feeling. And the feeling is mostly not to risk herself and to keep Charlotte safe*
<DeathStar> <Cuddles> Well, should I have Jen move Ren toward the stasis?
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "No."
<DeathStar> *Cuddles blinks*
<DeathStar> <Cuddles> N-No?
<DeathStar> <Cheryl> Alright. Let me strap her down for now. *She looks at Charlotte* Let us know if you start to crack up or anything
<DeathStar> <Andrea> Okay. What we need now is two things if we're not going the statis route
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Mmmmmm...what and where?"
<DeathStar> <Andrea> First - we need to purify body somehow. We can't move the soul back while she's still a Lich. That's priorty number one. We have to make her alive again. And then, after that, the second thing will be to somehow get Ren's soul out of Charlotte before the two souls begin to meld. And yes, that is a danger
<DeathStar> <Andrea> Once the two souls begin to meld, both parties will in danger
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "...yeah, I figure..."
<DeathStar> <Adeline> Correct me if I'm wrong, but what would melding detail?
<DeathStar> <Adeline> Would Charlotte just think she's Ren
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Mmmm...their personality traits will intermingle. Eventually the sronger personality's traits will become dominant."
<DeathStar> *Adeline muses on that*
<Jackieness> <Noire> *pushes up her glasses* "...alternatively, their combined spirit energy becomes too much for a single body to inhabit and they explode, leaving an anti-life void in their wake."
<DeathStar> *Cheryl moves over to Ren* Let me at least get the bed's straps on her. *suddenly, Ren's head turns toward Cheryl, and lunges at her neck, trying to rip a chunk out of it, forcing Cheryl to go low to avoid while Ren poofs into a strange lookign fox and run for the door*
<Alicia> * Charlotte tendril-grabs
<DeathStar> *The fox strains and begins to bite into the tendrils*
<Jackieness> <Noire> *lifts a finger and the door seals* "...my ship...my personal domain...my rules."
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "Can you please hurry up?"
<DeathStar> <Andrea> I will gather what tomes I have. *She vanishes as the fox tries to eat the tendrils*
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Cage her."
<DeathStar> *Cheryl rises and grabs the fox and Cuddles prepares some equipment so Cheryl can move it into a safety room* <Cuddles> On it
<DeathStar> *the safety room powers up with energy fields as they get it moved and Ren transforms back, a tendril in mouth* <Ren> Charlotte~. You taste so sweet. *She presses against the field*
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Mmmm...not really a lich. More a mutation."
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "Now, no more running away, okay?" *still looks pained, both physically emotionally*
<DeathStar> <Adeline> I see it's talking again
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "What do you mean?"
<DeathStar> *Charlotte in the bond would feel Ren's horror at the thing in front of them*
<DeathStar> <Adeline> It had gone almost catatonic after we left the planet yet now it's yapping again at you
<Alicia> <CHarlotte> "The mutation part."
<Jackieness> <Noire> "It may have been held at bay by Ren until just now."
<DeathStar> <Cheryl> Because Lich are normally not like this?
<DeathStar> *Cheryl eyes the materials given to them by Cedarton, half debating using one of them to gain insight, studying the hand and the drink, the silver knife off to the side*
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Correct. This is more like a ghoul than a lich."
<DeathStar> <Cheryl> It is possible something mutated when Ren and Charlotte took the power
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "Does that change the procedure?"
<DeathStar> <Adeline> Lets hope not
<DeathStar> *Andrea returns with tomes and sits down, flipping*
<DeathStar> *"Ren" has gone islent again, running her hands along the safety room, not caring about burning herself*
<DeathStar> *As if seeking something*
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Anyway... ghouls are a sort of 'hungry' undead."
<Alicia> <Charlotte> *to "Ren"* "Stop that."
<DeathStar> *"Ren" looks at Charlotte, skeleton tails swishing, then presses against wall* But I want to be out there with you
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Mmmmm...I'll add wards to it."
<DeathStar> <"Ren"> And the kids. They're so cute. I want to eat them up.
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "Well that's not happening."
<DeathStar> *Cheryl rubs her face* Let me know if there's something I can do
<Jackieness> <Noire> "She means that literally." *pulls a chair in front of the safety room*
<DeathStar> *Ren looks sad, sliding her hands down the wall and goes back to searching the room she's in for something*
<DeathStar> *Adeline helps Andrea, both looking for a spell that can help with the curing*
<Jackieness> <Noire> *switches to ehr shrine maiden look and sits down, raising her hands as she starts adding wards to the room*
<DeathStar> -SHIFT-
<DeathStar> Location: Mirror Universe - Dark Lands
<DeathStar> *after stopping by the Academy to pick up whoever might still be alive after 100 years (keep in mind if you do have them alive, you're committing to them being alive through Geyze), the group has traveled to the Dark Lands. The territory, once a nice lovely dark realm, now has a lot of damage in places from a war long back, perhaps one day we'll see what caused it. Fire spews in the air in places from magic unleashed upon it in areas, still burning brightly and areas of the old city still not quite rebuilt*
<DeathStar> *Taiga makes a face, wearing a hood over her face as she walks the streets, the massive Empress Tower lording over the city not quite what it once was*
<DeathStar> <Chii> And why are we here again?
<DeathStar> <Taiga> Well, all magiks and lore of the such is found here
<DeathStar> <Taiga> And I'm hoping a certain person can aid us
<DeathStar> *She turns to Astra* You okay?
<Alicia> <Astra> "...yeah."
<DeathStar> *they move through the noble district, or what is left of it*
<DeathStar> *the group stopping outside Rain's manor*
<DeathStar> *Taiga knocks on the door and soon a maid opens it and peers at them, looking unsure who they are* How may I help you?
<DeathStar> <Taiga> We'd like to talk to the master of the house about certain things. Tell them I'm Taiga Mizukaze. *The maid eyes them one more time dubiously, then steps back inside*
<DeathStar> *After a bit, they are ushered inside wher they are taken to a waiting area and given drinks and the maid departs; following that a beautiful, pale vampire with white hair and golden eyes steps in. Upon first glance it looks like Rain, but then it seems to be someone closesly related to her as she sits down, hands folded on her lap all prim and proper*
<DeathStar> <Vampire?> How may I help your party.
<Alicia> <Astra> "We're... looking for a cure to lichdom. Is that right?"
<DeathStar> <Taiga> Yes, that is correct. *The Vampire blinks at that. <Vampire> Lichdom? *She thinks* I admit I never heard of such a being before. What is it? <Taiga> And undead wizard, corpse, a skilled wizard who delves in raising the dead, that type of thing
<DeathStar> *thinking on it* <Vampire> We do have magi that delve into such matters. Blood Magiks can do a lot of things, including animating the dead. And a Magi has experimented on themselves before. You have monsters that are quite close to what you are describing as well. Monsters with intelligence and can control the dead
<DeathStar> <Vampire> Especially Monster Queens
<Alicia> <Astra> "What's a Monster Queen?"
<DeathStar> <Vampire> A monster queen is a powerful monster that is born a generation to a group of monsters. For example, tentacle plants. A monster queen would be a powerful version of that, and can control an army of these plants. They've been known to infest forests and eat Ents.
<DeathStar> <Vampire> They're strength is untold and intelligence rivals that of humans
<Alicia> <Astra> "Oh, so like... wait, never mind."
<DeathStar> <vampire> There has been many wars with Queens
<DeathStar> <Vampire> Especially queens that get together
<DeathStar> *Taiga thinks* So while there might not be a Lich here, there are stuff that is close enough
<DeathStar> <Taiga> The Blood Magi and these monsters
<DeathStar> <Vampire> Delving into blood magik is risky at the best of times. If you want to endanger yourself with Blood Magik, I would tell you to go abck, but there is a school
<Alicia> <Astra> "Oh no, we're trying to save someone."
<DeathStar> <Vampire> The school preaches how to use it to save people, but in the end, my belief is that it can only bring about death
<DeathStar> *Taiga glances at Astra* <Taiga> It can't hurt to look at unless you want to go monster hunting
<DeathStar> *Chii leans in* <Chii> Either way it sounds like a pain
<Alicia> <Astra> "I don't know if I'd be any use there. We should see if we can stop whatever the lich effect is."
<DeathStar> <Taiga> Lets go see what we can find then. *She grabs her datapad on the way out* Thank you, uh, Rain.
<DeathStar> *The vampire pauses, then bows her head* <Vampire> Of course. Take care, Mizukaze
<DeathStar> *she escorts them back to the door* <Vampire> If this undead creature you are dealing with is too much of a problem, there is always one solution
<DeathStar> <Taiga> And that is? *She glances back, peering at the vampire, then at Astra*
<Alicia> <Astra> "What's that?"
<DeathStar> <Vampire> Holy magik. Or a Holy Spirit. It should burn them completely.
<DeathStar> <Taiga> Sadly that is a talent I lack
<Alicia> <Astra> "...I...don't think that's a very good plan..."
<DeathStar> <Vampire> *nods her head* Fair enough
<DeathStar> <Vampire> Spirit speed on your journey.
<DeathStar> -SHIFT-
<DeathStar> Location: PAX
<DeathStar> *the wards are up, and Ren is staring at them creepily*
<DeathStar> *like something eyeing their meal*
<DeathStar> <Cuddles> She's freaking me ot
<DeathStar> *everyone's datapads beep with a message from Taiga*
<Seraphna> Jennifer> Use this dear. **hands her a spray bottle**
<Seraphna> Jennifer> Holy Water with Garlic.
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "I'm just angry."
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Good... then perhaps you won't lower your guard."
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "Isn't garlic for vampires?"
<DeathStar> *Cuddles sprays at Ren and Ren recoils, mainly due to the holy elements*
<DeathStar> *Then paces in the room, looking at Cuddles with an anger*
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Mmmmm..." *looks at her pad*
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "Then behave."
<DeathStar> *Taiga gives them an update on everything and going to the Blood Magi*
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Blood magi?"
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "I heard something about them, but not much."
<DeathStar> <Adeline> A sect of the magi
<DeathStar> <Adeline> They use blood to make their magik more powerful and potent
<DeathStar> <Adeline> Plus they can unlock spells that normal magi refuse to touch
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Mmmmmm...I see..."
<DeathStar> <Andrea> It's something we can do here. If we're desperate.
<DeathStar> <Andrea> Blood has .... capabilities
<DeathStar> *"Ren" seems to plotting something, having turned her back to them and kneeling*
<DeathStar> *At the same time, Charlotte would begin to feel a little dizzy, the bond link with Ren making her vision shakey - hopefully this isn't the start of the meld*
<Alicia> <CHarlotte> "...hurry up already..."
<DeathStar> <Cuddles> Jennifer, what is that thing doing?
<DeathStar> *she squints at the camera feed at Ren*
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Mmmmmmm..." *turns and uses a mantra against evil to try to keep 'Ren' form acting up again*
<DeathStar> *The Lich Ren makes a noise at Moire trying to do something, turning; it looks like it was biting into her own arm*
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "Oh god, do we need to strap them up so hard they can't move at all?"
<Jackieness> <Noire> "...its why I suggested stasis as a solution..."
<DeathStar> <Cheryl> I could go in there and get them pinned
<DeathStar> <Adeline> Unless that's what they want
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Mmmm...also possible..."
<DeathStar> *Andrea picks a tome and begins to go with it*
<DeathStar> <Andrea> IT sucks we don't have Magi or Maka here
<DeathStar> <Andrea> My skills are suited for darker magic, which works against us
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Mother, I am adept in both Dark One magic and the spiritual magics of a shrine maiden."
<DeathStar> <Andrea> Yeah, I know, but you need others in this type of cleansing
<DeathStar> <Andrea> We're talking about cleansing what is in her completely. This Lich will attempt to break free as soon as your supression is shifted to cleansing.
<Jackieness> <Noire> "...I understand...mmmm..."
<DeathStar> <Andrea> After that soul transfer could use a little more hands on deck too. *she leans back in the chair* Charlotte can aid us some in the cleansing but the transfer she will need to help guide Ren abck
<DeathStar> *Andrea hands Charlotte the cleansing tomes so she can catch up*
<Alicia> * Charlotte reads, despite her vision being shakey
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Then where could we get that sort of assistance, mother?"
<DeathStar> <Cheryl> Do we know any magic users? Angela could toss holy at hre. <Andrea> If you wanted to burn the body to a crisp
<DeathStar> *The text mostly talks about using cleansing rituals, which sound like a pain in the ass, to try to get the any trace of the undead influence out of the body. It doesn't say what to do afterward if the person is still dead, but that will be a bridge to cross afterward*
<DeathStar> <Andrea> I'll see what I can find to aid you girls. Worst case scenario
<DeathStar> <Andrea> I'll take over the supression
<DeathStar> <Andrea> And you two will cleanse.
<DeathStar> *Cuddles checks Charlotte's forehead, noting something down* Please hurry, my patient cannot last forever; neither of them
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Mmmm...yes..."
<DeathStar> -SHIFT-
<DeathStar> Location: Geyze
<DeathStar> *Taiga and Astra arrive not up north in the snow area, but somewhere further south. The Blood Magi have made a village in the trees as Taiga walks along, studying the magi working with nature of all things*
<DeathStar> *Their clothing hiding all parts of their body, even in the heat*
<DeathStar> <Chii> Sus
<DeathStar> *she looks around the village at all the magi, who seem to be observing them but aren't doing anything until one approaches them, their hood up; a female voice speaks* <Mage> Hello. I am the leader of these mages. What brings you here today?
<DeathStar> *Taiga explains the situation as the magi nods and is caught up to speed; as for is they get help or not, since we're down the other player, we'll skip back to Prime*
<DeathStar> -SHIFT-
<DeathStar> Location: PAX
<DeathStar> *Cheryl leans over Noire, everything quiet from Lich Ren*
<Jackieness> <Noire> *works on maintaining her seals and wards*
<DeathStar> <Cheryl> I don't know anything about rituals, but you think I can mimic this and help?
<Jackieness> <Noire> "...I don't know...not in a position to give you a course in ancient Japanese shamanism."
<DeathStar> <Cheryl> Fair enough
<DeathStar> *Andrea returns, with Tsukiyomi and Fate*
<DeathStar> <Fate> I can aid in the ritual part. <Andrea> The moon goddess here will aid me in keeping this thing sealed
<Jackieness> <Noire> "...perhaps I cna take a break then."
<DeathStar> *Tsukiyomi nods to Noire to do so, then pauses* We might have a problem
<DeathStar> <Tsukiyomi> There is something ... unnatural leaking in the air
<Jackieness> <Noire> "...what?"
<DeathStar> <Tsukiyomi> I almost didn't sense it, but it feels like a fine mist, designed to poison and kill.
<DeathStar> *she looks for the source* I think it is coming from... *she points at Ren*
<Jackieness> <Noire> "...how annoying."
<DeathStar> *Cuddles looks at the readings* I see nothing on the readings. If she is right, it isnt a high amount yet
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Mmmm..it may also be of a supernatural nature, so it may not be detectable by standard toxin detectors."
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "Okay, seal her in completely."
<DeathStar> <Tsukiyomi> I will do that. <Andrea> I think you should begin the ritual now
<DeathStar> <Andrea> Once you start purifying her, that thing will fight with everything you have
<DeathStar> *it has
<DeathStar> *Tsukiyomi takes over the seal*
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "Good. I'm looking forward to utterly destroying it."
<Jackieness> <Noire> *steps back* "Remember, this is Ren's hunger instincts without Ren's humanity to temper it."
<DeathStar> <Fate> Poor hungry Ren
<DeathStar> *The creature snarls*
<DeathStar> *it begins to actually bash the room walls, with such force that it shakes it, and alarms go off*
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "Oh, I didn't know Ren's hunger was into poison."
<DeathStar> <"Ren"> Let. Me. Out.
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Rememeber, Ren's body has the abilities of a lich and the drive to escape and eat anyone ti coems across."
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "Then behave or die."
<DeathStar> *As Noire says that, Ren begins to form the massive hands ability and begins to try to force the room to break*
<DeathStar> *not caring if she also takes damage*
<DeathStar> <Cuddles> Using power dampening
<DeathStar> *she cuts off the hands*
<DeathStar> *Fate nods to Noire* You take the lead
<Jackieness> <Noire> *pulls out an onusa, the shinto wand specific to purification rituals, and begins a chant*
<DeathStar> *Fate begins to do the chant as well, her Japanese and stance pretty good surprisingly*
<DeathStar> *the Ren in the room looks pained almost, and with one last effort to use Ren's primal strength, breaks out, ward or not, standing there and lumbers toward the two chanting. Tsukiyomi and Andrea moving in her way*
<DeathStar> *Ren begins to open her mouth to bite into someone*
<Alicia> * Charlotte grabs her with tendrils once more, actually allowing Ren to eat tendrils
<DeathStar> *Cheryl forms her whip and begins to whip from behind to lasso her as she bites into the tendrils again*
<DeathStar> *Ren struggles as she bites down*
<Alicia> * Charlotte actually allows the pain to help her focus
<DeathStar> *Charlotte's focus indeed does for a bit as the ritual suddenly finishes and Ren seems to stiffen and fall over, once more in a dead state*
<DeathStar> <Cheryl> ... *peers down*
<DeathStar> <Andrea> That went better than I thought
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Mmmm...well...that has happened."
<DeathStar> <Andrea> It's what we wanted - her completely purged. *Ren's body slowly looks more normal now*
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "...so, now just to put her back in."
<DeathStar> <Andrea> Yes, that's the trickier part
<DeathStar> <Andrea> How to move her out of you back into her.
<DeathStar> <Andrea> There's been no melding right?
<DeathStar> <Fate> As long as Charlotte has not been gaining memories of Ren we should be fine
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "Then we should be fine."
<Jackieness> <Noire> "So how do we reverse the Ren Flow, mother?"
<DeathStar> *At that moment, the med bay lights up with a summon teleport*
<DeathStar> *standing there is a spirit - at first glance, it appears to be Chronos, but closer inspection reveals it is Avenir, much older now, looking withdrawn as ever. With her is Taiga team and a hooded figure, the blood mage*
<DeathStar> <Taiga> I'm back. We needed extra help to make it back in time
<Alicia> <Astra> "Are you both okay?"
<DeathStar> *The mage kneels to inspect Ren while they talk*
<DeathStar> <Cheryl> Everything is okay here. We're just figuring out how to soul transfer before it's too late.
<Jackieness> <Noire> "We were able to conduct a purification ritual on Ren's body."
<DeathStar> *Andrea seems to be thinking on it still*
<DeathStar> <Blood Mage> There might be a way. The soul of this one. *taps Ren* Is in this one? *She taps Charlotte*
<Alicia> * Charlotte nods
<DeathStar> <Blood Mage> I know a spell, if you trust my magiks
<DeathStar> <Chii> They certainly don't like to show their face, if that matters
<DeathStar> <Andrea> Anything I know would be risky, if you want me to try. After all, I use dark magiks
<Jackieness> <Noire> *looks over at the blood mage* "What cna you do?"
<DeathStar> <Blood Mage> We will have to lay the two side by side in a circle of my blood. Then we will take this one's blood. *taps Charlotte* And switch some of it with this one's *Taps Ren* To form a conduit while I cite a transfer spell. It should work on a soul if that is what I am focused on instead of say, power.
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "Okay, lets do that."
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Mmmm...the theory is sound."
<DeathStar> <Cuddles> This is highly... irregular!
<Alicia> <Astra> "Oh?"
<DeathStar> <Cuddles> Blood letting all over my magical lab!
<Alicia> <Astra> "Oh."
<DeathStar> *The mage goes about preparing the room, while Cuddles lays Ren on one bed and Charlotte in the other* <Cuddles> Well if we're going to do this. *she hooks it up so blood can be transferred at least somehwat normally*
<DeathStar> *The mage then begins to do her blood in a circle around the two*
<DeathStar> <Mage> Since you are the one awake and with the soul, focus on your friend the entire time. It will help with the process.
<DeathStar> <Mage> Keep a firm picture in your head that you wish for them to leave you and go back to themselves
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "That's easy enough."
<DeathStar> *the mage nods and begins to chant, a blood bubble forming over her hand as she does; the words she speaks though are quite chilling, speaking of the blood running through all of us*
<DeathStar> <Cheryl> .... *eyes Noire*
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Mmmm...Cuddles, this is the best equipped location to handle somethign like this anyway."
<DeathStar> <Cuddles> I suppose you're right
<DeathStar> *She seems to be waiting with a cart incase something happens to Charlotte*
<DeathStar> *Fate seems to be watching the ritual silently, as the blood all over the room begins to look glowy and charged, the lights go out*
<DeathStar> <Adeline> We've lost power in this section
<DeathStar> *she seems to be trying to restore it*
<Alicia> * Charlotte continues concentrating on Ren and the ritual, Astra just waiting patiently
<DeathStar> *the power returns as Adeline finishes re-routing*
<DeathStar> *The blood mage eyes Cheryl standing there with her whip at her throat, seeing if it was a trap*
<DeathStar> *she pulls her hood down, shaking her long red hair and fox ears twitching, revealing a fox fauna* .... *At that moment, Ren coughs and sits up, holding her arm painfully*
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "Ren, are you okay?"
<DeathStar> <Ren> ... *she looks around, then blinks* I... I am. *She eyes Charlotte* Are you okay?
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "Am now."
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Mmmmm...don't be offended. Cheryl is liek that around everyone."
<DeathStar> <Ren> I feel like I wasin a daze
<DeathStar> *Cheryl backs off while Cuddles checks her out* <Cuddles> All vitals are good
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "...accurate enough."
<DeathStar> <Cuddles> I'll want to continue to observe you both
<DeathStar> <Cuddles> But you can go
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Cuddle, give Ren the works. This is a somewhat unusual case, afterall."
<DeathStar> *the mage talks to Avenir* We'll return home now.
<DeathStar> <Cuddles> I suppose I can do that. *She gets various tools to examine Ren from top to bottom*
<DeathStar> <Ren> Wait wait. *she cligns to Charlotte* Wait, do I really need that? I wasn't that hurt was I?
<DeathStar> <Adeline> ... hm
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "...sortof?"
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Mmmm...perhaps examine Charlotte too, just in case."
<DeathStar> *Cuddles pulls out another set for Charlotte too*
<DeathStar> *strapping gloves on*
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Have fun."
<DeathStar> -TIME JUMP-
<DeathStar> Date: 10-761.5.21
<DeathStar> Location: The Bar
<DeathStar> *Ren sits at the bar with a salad, Adeline going through the reports of what happened; oddly enough the potion and the hand and knife have gone MIA since the incident, most likely taken by one of the people there that day*
<DeathStar> <Ren> Cuddles forbade me and Charlotte to ever tap into that power again, but I'm not even sure I have it anymore
<Jackieness> <Noire> "We may want to see if it can be safely extracted from Charlotte. Let us not risk a repeat."
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "I'm working on that."
<DeathStar> <Ren> Maybe Andrea or that fox mage can help do it
<DeathStar> <Ren> My memory is still spotty. I vaguely recall waking up at Cuddles and being so hungry I wanted to eat anything or anyone, so I fled before I could eat Cuddles. After that, it's just holes and there. I killed the Lich that was there
<DeathStar> <Ren> And I tried to follow his papers but science wasn't my forte, building things was
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "So who attacked me, then?"
<DeathStar> *Adeline looks up* I have theories, but none of them are something you're going to like
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "I like not knowing less."
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Don't tease, Adeline."
<DeathStar> <Adeline> It clearly was attracted to the power in Charlotte's beacon, so it had some psionic ability. But she also decribed it as dark and ancient, powerful
<DeathStar> <Adeline> There's only a few races that might can be described as that
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "Go on."
<DeathStar> <Adeline> And I think it stirred it awake
<DeathStar> <Adeline> Well, there's only two races that fit the description of being ancient and powerful
<DeathStar> <Adeline> Can you name them?
<Jackieness> <Noire> "MMmm... Dark Ones and Progenitors."
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "... yeah, it does hurt to know you're still bottom rung."
<DeathStar> <Adeline> Correct. So unless it's a third one that was not on the books, which is possibilty we'll have to look into, either she touched on a branch of the Dark Ones, or she located the Progenitors that might be out there
<DeathStar> <Adeline> Three choices
<Jackieness> <Noire> "...more mysteries...if I had a course, I could go out there to look."
<DeathStar> *Ren finishes her salad, folding her hands* You don't think this mystery enemy will seek out Char do you?
<DeathStar> <Fate> I can try to locate them if you feel they'll be a threat
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "I don't know what I want there. It'd be validating, but..."
<DeathStar> <Fate> You did put out quite the impressive "I am here"
<DeathStar> <Fate> Even if it took a potion
<DeathStar> <Adeline> Fate is correct. It took a lot to supress that mind of yours
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Though she was sensing for Ren... the only reason she should have been noticed then is if the lich's lair was already touched by this ancient."
<DeathStar> <Adeline> Possibily it could have been a source of power by them at one point, but in psionic terms
<DeathStar> <Adeline> She was standing there with a megaphone screaming into it
<Alicia> <Astra> "...mmm."
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Mmmmm...the lich may have been drawn to that place since it sensed the power there."
<DeathStar> <Ren> I guess we'll need to examine it more carefully
<DeathStar> <Ren> And see what we can find - wait
<DeathStar> <Ren> We cna't
<DeathStar> *She hangs head*
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Mmmmmm?"
<DeathStar> <Ren> Cartel are set up shop to do stuff. I don't have all the details but I know they're interested in the woods and their logging operations
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "Cartel issues?"
<DeathStar> *She nods at Charlotte*
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "...logging. LOGGING. YOU CAN GET WOOD ANYWHERE!"
<DeathStar> *Ren winces*
<DeathStar> <Adeline> Clearly an excuse
<DeathStar> *She nods*
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Mmmm...assuming the logging is not merely a cover for soemthign else of interest."
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "It better be. I don't want people dying over cutting down some trees."
<Jackieness> <Noire> "...an ancient evil is hardly an improvement."
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "That's why they'd be dying."
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Either way, I feel that we have sufficient cause to investigate further."
<DeathStar> <Ren> Hm
<DeathStar> <Ren> So how do you propose we get past the Cartel? Talk to them?
<DeathStar> <Adeline> It can't hurt
<DeathStar> *she eats her food in thought*
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Unless they are after whatever Charlottle contacted, then they might becoem evasive."
<DeathStar> <Ren> Well if we go in and investigate on our own we could make things worse too
<DeathStar> <Ren> I'll run it by the Empresses
<DeathStar> <Ren> See what approach they want to take. Talk or just sneak in
<DeathStar> <Fate> I'll also go out and see if I can't locate the source of this evil directly. My power isn't what it used to be but maybe I'll find something
<Jackieness> <Noire> "MMmm...maybe approach the contacts we still have in the Cartel first."
<DeathStar> <Ren> I can do that on the side too while the Empresses debate
<DeathStar> <Ren> Shiva is a hard one to read these days
<DeathStar> <Ren> She's no Loki or the Council, but at the same time you can't tell which way she'll move even after cleaning the Cartel back up
<DeathStar> <Ren> Case in point, the Spade twins
<Jackieness> <Noire> "...dealing with the Cartel was easier when Loki was on the top of the pile."
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "I still prefer not doing... but at least Shiva isn't guaranteed to backstab you."
<DeathStar> <Ren> Oh he was a jackass, but you knew after he did his games you'd get somethign back. Shiva is like a straight and arrow - for the Cartel. But Charlotte is right
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Then do what you can."
<DeathStar> *Ren nods and stands up* I'll go get the ball rolling
<DeathStar> -Epilogue-
<DeathStar> *Taiga stands in the club room, sitting down to open a file which reads Fumoffu - Taiga files*
<DeathStar> *She begins to go through her files before Ren took over and begins to open a new case file*
<DeathStar> -END-
* Jackieness has quit IRC
Session Close: Mon Jul 29 00:00:00 2024